49ers won't Stick to Candlestick in NFL Football

The San Francisco 49ers are moving.

Following a surprising 9-3 win over Brad Johnson and the rest of the Minnesota Vikings, the San Francisco 49ers could very well see themselves out of Candlestick Park and start a new NFL Football chapter with a state-of-the-art stadium in Santa Clara.

After years of planning for a stadium in the city that has been the franchise's home for six decades, San Francisco 49ers team owner John York officially changed his club's focus Thursday from Candlestick Point to this Silicon Valley suburb 30 miles south of San Francisco.

This is after their plan to build a stadium and retail-housing complex at Candlestick Point failed according to the San Francisco 49ers team officials.

At a press conference in Santa Clara, at a hotel next door to the proposed new site, 49ers co-owner John York said paying for transportation improvements and a new parking garage at Candlestick Point would at least double the $600 million to $800 million that the team is willing to spend on a new home.

The team said a Santa Clara stadium near the Great America amusement park could be built for that price through a ''public-private partnership'' that might include a land deal for the 49ers, but would not raise taxes for residents or tap the city's general fund.

Of course, you just know that San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom wasn't pleased.

''John York is obviously a very straight shooter, but in this case, respectfully, I don't think he has been,'' Newsom said. ''We were just two months ago talking about rolling it out. That's why I'm a little perplexed about the abruptness of the phone call I received last night.''

The 49ers said their proposed Santa Clara site has the advantage of good freeway access and is a 10-minute walk from a VTA light-rail stop and an ACE commuter rail station.

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers will meet the Detroit Lions, both teams coming off upset wins over their NFL Football rivals. Will Detroit beat the 49ers or will San Francisco upset the Lions? Bet and play WagerTalk's NFL Football Handicapping Contest and decide for yourself. Make your picks now.

Who will win this NFL Football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions? All Star Sportsbook has the odds.

San Francisco 49ers +6

Detroit Lions -6