SAN FRANCISCO -- While Mayor Gavin Newsom attempted to resurrect talks with the 49ers' ownership over building a stadium, a state lawmaker said Friday that he would try to bar the team from using the name San Francisco if it leaves town.
One day after the team announced it was done negotiating with Newsom and was now committed '100 per cent' to moving to Santa Clara, team owner John York reopened the door ever so slightly by saying he would listen to any new ideas from San Francisco. But York reiterated that the team was still sitting down with Santa Clara officials.
York and Newsom met Friday morning at the prompting of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a San Francisco resident and former mayor who also attended the meeting.
'At that meeting, York once again explained that the present plan at Candlestick Point does not work for the team's fans,' the team said in a statement. 'Sen. Feinstein and Mayor Newsom requested the opportunity to explore other options with the 49ers in San Francisco. York reiterated that he was happy to listen to those proposals, but stated that the 49ers were moving forward with their planned talks with the City of Santa Clara.'
Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno said he is looking into introducing a bill that would prohibit professional sports teams not based in the city from using San Francisco in their names unless authorized by the mayor and board of supervisors.
'The name San Francisco has cachet all over the world as a No. 1 destination spot,' said Leno, who represents the part of San Francisco where the Niners play their home games. 'I don't think San Francisco's name should automatically be able to be used by a franchise that is not located in the city.'
-- Associated Press
