The 49ers just sent out this news release. Please read it and I’ll be back in a moment:
For Immediate Release:
Ground Breaking on New Santa Clara Parking Garage on July 7th
SANTA CLARA, CA – A ground breaking ceremony for a six-story, 1,820 space garage adjacent to the Santa Clara Convention Center will take place on Thursday, July 7th at 11:00 a.m. The $25 million dollar project has been in the City’s plans for several years. The new garage should be ready for use by Fall, 2012.
Even though the garage was approved and budgeted years ago prior to the San Francisco 49ers stadium proposal, the timing complements plans to build the recently Santa Clara voter approved 68,500-seat NFL stadium. The garage adds to an existing 40,000 + parking spaces within a 20-minute walk of the new stadium site. Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau President & CEO Steve Van Dorn says, “The parking structure is much needed and will be a great asset to the Convention Center, the City’s Entertainment District, and businesses located in the area.”
This month also marks the 25th Anniversary of the Santa Clara Convention Center. Since opening on July 1, 1986, it has been recognized as one of the premier meeting facilities in the nation. Over the past five years, the Convention Center has averaged over 400 events per year with over 300,000 conference and meeting attendees annually. For more information, visitwww.santaclara.org
OK, that was the release. It tells us a parking garage will get built near the Santa Clara convention center and near where a 49ers stadium will be built if one ever gets built. That’s the point, right? It’s the first sign of stadium building, even though it really isn’t.
I can tell you with all honesty this is the first time I’ve ever read a press release about a parking lot. I mean, the whole thing is so new and exciting. I wish the release had told us more. Like how big is each parking spot? Can an Escalade comfortably fit in one? Is the elevator service good? Hey, this is the kind of stuff we want from a football team.
The 49ers’ COO Paraag Marathe will be there for the groundbreaking tomorrow and he will be available for interviews.
“Paraag, is this going to be a championship garage, or what?”
As you can see I think it’s kind of a stretch to make a big deal out of a garage. I also am not convinced the Niners will build a stadium in Santa Clara — I am still in favor of San Francisco. Call me a traditionalist.
Of course, I do not want to lose the Niners and if they end up moving to Santa Clara, so be it.
I’m on vacation, otherwise I’m sure I’d attend the parking garage news conference on Thursday. It’s the place to be.
