Center Of Niner Nation Quickly Shifting To Santa Clara
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) - If the San Francisco 49ers are able to bring home a 6th Super Bowl title, the Lombardi Trophy will take up residence in Santa Clara.
The team's practice facility has been there for years, but Santa Clara is also the future for everything 49ers, except a possible victory parade next month.
"We'll let their police pay for it, and we'll go up there and have a beer with them," joked former Santa Clara City Councilman Kevin Moore.
It was Moore who, in 2003, wrote the first letter to 49ers owner Dr. John York asking him to consider Santa Clara for the new stadium. That suggestion led to a $1.2 billion stadium project that is taking shape on the Santa Clara skyline.
So how did the city of 118,000 land one of the most successful sports franchises of all time?
"Santa Clara is always going to be a small town, but we thought big," recalled Moore.
The town may not have any skyscrapers or bridges, but it does have a reputation as a well-run, business friendly city. Everyone from the high-tech companies to the 5 Guys Burger franchise where Colin Kaepernick gets his burger will benefit from the new neighbor.
Complete Coverage Of The Road To The Super Bowl
"We're honored to be just a few blocks from the new stadium," said 5 Guys manager Mathew Lamb. "We're joking with Colin, 'now you're going to be so close you can come in after games.'"
The stadium project is slated for completion in time for the 2014 season.
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