Blogs

MT: Levi’s Stadium is Born

The San Francisco 49ers have a name to their future home, Levi’s® Stadium.

Thanks to a unanimous, 7-0 vote buy the Santa Clara City Council, the $220 million stadium naming rights deal between the iconic Bay Area brands is now official.

“It’s a testament to why we always thought this project would work,” 49ers CEO Jed York told the San Jose Mercury News. “To anybody who ever doubted this project would happen, these numbers speak for themselves.”

York spoke at the city council meeting along with Levi’s® CEO Chip Bergh, who wisely wore 49ers-colored Levi’s® jeans.

Following the approval, both CEOs shook hands with big grins. Soon after, they posed for photos with members of the City Council and members of the 49ers front office.

LevisStadium.com is now the place to learn all about the team’s future home. Book your tour of Levi’s® Stadium today.

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Morning Tailgate: Super Bowl L Update

The new Santa Clara Stadium remains a strong contender to host Super Bowl L. The future home of the 49ers, set to open in 2014, is one of two candidates to host the biggest game in professional sports at the conclusion of the 2016 season.

The San Francisco Super Bowl committee is up against South Florida to host Super Bowl L. The decision will come down to a vote from NFL owners on May 21.

After recent developments in South Florida, Santa Clara could be considered favorites to host the big game. Peter King of Sports Illustrated explained the reasoning in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.

“When the Florida legislature on Friday refused to allow the citizens of South Florida to vote on whether to increase the South Florida hotel tax from 6 to 7 percent, it put a huge damper on the chance for Super Bowl L to be held at Dolphins Stadium,” King wrote.

“The league had said the site very much needs the proposed $350 million stadium improvement. Owners are slated to vote for Super Bowls 50 and 51 at the spring meetings in Boston May 20-22. Super Bowl 50 was a battle between the San Francisco Bay Area and South Florida, with 51 likely headed to either Houston or the loser of the fight for 50.

“So, barring a late Hail Mary from Miami owner Stephen Ross, it’s likely Santa Clara (45 miles south of San Francisco) will get 50 and Houston 51. It would be the first Super Bowl in the Bay Area in 31 years, since the Joe Montana-Dan Marino faceoff in Palo Alto in January 1985.”

Book your tour of the new Santa Clara Stadium today.

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Morning Tailgate: Round 1 Recap

For a second consecutive year, Trent Baalke pegged a first-round draft pick at least 24 hours before the actual draft.

In 2012, it was A.J. Jenkins who was the preferred pick of the San Francisco 49ers general manager. In 2013, the honor went to LSU safety Eric Reid.

Baalke’s 24-hour preference of the SEC safety was shared by Jed York.

The 49ers CEO offered a glimpse into Baalke’s pre-draft mindset in a Thursday night conversation with Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports.

“We weren’t nervous,” York said of the 49ers draft room. “Trent made up his mind yesterday what he wanted to do and he went out and did it. And if it hadn’t worked out, we’d have still had some pretty good options.”

Perhaps the 49ers will have those other options in play for the No. 34 overall pick, a selection they acquired from a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The fast-paced first-round of the NFL Draft is recapped in today’s Morning Tailgate.

On to the links…

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MT: Lattimore Compared to Frank Gore

Both Frank Gore and Marcus Lattimore suffered multiple knee injuries in college. Both, however, are considered highly talented running backs, ones who have been known as explosive play-makers during their respective careers.

Gore stands as the San Francisco 49ers all-time leader in rushing yards, carries and rushing touchdowns. At 29, Gore is also coming off a Pro Bowl season, the fourth of his career.

Lattimore,  the NCAA’s national freshman of the year in 2009, has yet to make a lasting career in the NFL. He’s still aiming to be drafted in 2013 after suffering his second major knee injury at the University of South Carolina.

However, the comparisons between the two are still easy to dissect.

Gore was a third-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2005 and proved to be a brilliant selection for San Francisco.

Lattimore, on the other hand, stands poised to follow in Gore’s footsteps. The two also developed a relationship last year. Thanks to 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver, a college teammate of Lattimore, the two were put in touch after the running back prospect tore all three major knee ligaments in his right knee against the University of Tennessee.

Lattimore later compared himself to Gore at the 2013 Scouting Combine.

“I feel like we both run hard,” Lattimore said. “He runs like nobody’s there. He runs with total destruction. I feel like if I could compare my game to anybody, it would be Frank Gore. He’s got low pads, he’s got great vision, he can see the whole field. Great balance.”

The comparisons between the two running backs continued this week in a recent episode of John Gruden’s Camp on ESPN.

The former NFL head coach asked Lattimore about both major knee injuries he suffered in college and how he’s been able to bounce back from the hardships.

“Anything that comes to me in life,” Lattimore began, “I feel like I’ve been through it all. Nothing can ever take the smile off my face because I’ll never take anything for granted again.”

Lattimore continued to detail the lessons he’s learned through rehab and why he’s pursuing a career in the NFL.

“I love football,” the South Carolina star told Gruden. “My kids they’re going to watch this one day and they’re going to see my dad never gave up.

“My story relates to everybody…Adversity introduces a man to himself.”

Gruden later commented that his father ribbed him for not drafting Gore back in 2005. When the 49ers running back broke a big run against a Gruden-coached Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, the elder Gruden immediately sent his son a text message with a reminder of his praise for Gore.

It remains to be seen where Lattimore gets drafted in 2013, but his story is one to watch come April 25, especially with how it compares to San Francisco’s own starting running back.

More NFL Draft and 49ers headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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Morning Tailgate: Improved NFC West

By the end of last season, Jim Harbaugh argued that the NFC West could be named the toughest division in football. After watching the first week of free agency unfold, it looks like the road to a third consecutive NFC West title for the 49ers will be formidable. Peter King of Sports Illustrated took stock of the division heading into 2013.

“They’ll have more draft choices in 2013 than any other team — 14 — and GM Trent Baalke, despite what the Niners say publicly, has to be thinking about what it would take to acquire Darrelle Revis, with extra picks in the second, third and fourth rounds as chips,” King wrote. “Whatever, San Francisco has to be markedly better in the back of the defense to have a chance to win the Super Bowl in 2014. Clutch physical receiver Anquan Boldin will help Colin Kaepernick make plays downfield.”

The rest of today’s Morning Tailgate gets you primed for the NFL team owners meetings and more.

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Morning Tailgate: Free Agency Primer

The NFL free agency frenzy is just around the corner. Starting Friday night at 9 p.m. PT, teams can start negotiating contracts with the agents of free agent players, but no deals can be signed until 1 p.m PT on Tuesday, March 12.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle noted the ins and outs of the free agent process in a recent post. “For the first time, the league will tiptoe into free agency by allowing teams to begin negotiating with agents of pending unrestricted free agents in advance of the official start of free agency (1 p.m. PT Tuesday),” Branch wrote. “Contracts can’t be signed until Tuesday. During the three-day negotiating period, a UFA can’t take visits or have contact with another team, other than his own.”

The 49ers would also like to invite their Faithful Fans to a Colin Kaepernick autograph signing on behalf of Gatorade later today from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Danville Safeway (3496 Camino Tassajara).

The rest of today’s Morning Tailgate looks ahead to free agency and more.

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Morning Tailgate: Super Bowl Bid

49ers CEO Jed York addressed the media on Wednesday at Northwest Plaza of the new Santa Clara Stadium to update reporters on the region’s latest efforts to secure Super Bowl L in 2016. York was joined by Santa Clara mayor Jamie Matthews, San Francisco mayor Ed Lee and San Joe mayor Chuck Reed to promote the region-wide collaboration that will make the Bay Area a premier Super Bowl host for years to come.

Want to see the latest construction progress? Book a tour of the new Santa Clara Stadium site.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee attended Wednesday’s media session and shared his thoughts on the Bay Area’s bid for the big game.

The 50th game holds the most prestige, and that’s the one the 49ers are gunning to get. Team CEO Jed York said he hoped the stadium’s hallmarks – its technology and its sustainable design – catch the eye of the owners. “We have enough solar panels for our 10 games to be powered by the sun,” he said.”

The rest of today’s Morning Tailgate rounds up the latest new stadium headlines and David Akers’ release from the 49ers.

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Morning Tailgate: SC Stadium Update

49ers CEO Jed York and local dignitaries are set to take a tour of the new Santa Clara Stadium site on Wednesday and discuss the city’s bid to bring Super Bowl L to the Bay Area in 2016.

On Tuesday, York got a lay of the land and sent out various pictures of the latest construction developments in the new stadium site via Twitter. Mike Sando of ESPN.com rounded up York’s pictures and gave his take on the rapidly-rising future home of the 49ers.

Want to take your own tour of the new Santa Clara Stadium? Book a tour today.

The rest of today’s Morning Tailgate looks ahead to the free agency period from a 49ers perspective and primes you for the top players available in 2013.

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Morning Tailgate: No Franchise Tag

By the time the clock struck 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon, it was official: the 49ers wouldn’t be using their franchise tag in 2013. Many viewed All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson as a the team’s top candidate to receive the franchise tag, which would keep him in San Francisco for at least one more season. Once the deadline passed without an agreement, Goldson and 49ers CEO Jed York interacted on Twitter, both stating their desire to work out a long-term deal.

@thehawk38 hope we can get something done—
Jed York (@JedYork) March 05, 2013

The rest of Today’s Morning Tailgate looks at the latest reactions to the 49ers roster as the team approaches the league’s new calendar year on March 12 and the innovative front office.

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Morning Tailgate: Jan. 24

We’re just getting into the swing of things for Super Bowl XLVII, but after the 49ers held their first workout to prepare for New Orleans, it seems like gameday will be here before we know it.

Spirits were high on an overcast day at 49ers headquarters. The team appeared to be very upbeat about what lies ahead, a Feb. 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

The matchup is undeniably interesting based on the Harbaugh family dynamic. The passion the football family has is also quite unique. Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, along with daughter Joani Crean, discussed their relationships with Jim and John Harbaugh in a national conference call Thursday morning.

By the end of the call, it was quite evident how special the Harbaugh family is and how much they mean to each other. For Jackie and Joani, Super Bowl XLVII is a truly proud moment for the family.

More Super Bowl headlines can be found after the jump.

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