http://www.mercurynews.com/southbayfootball/ci_11542007
The NFL is urging the 49ers to explore sharing a new stadium with their cross-bay neighbors, the Raiders, hoping the Bay Area could follow the lead of the New York Giants and the New York Jets, who have joined forces to privately finance the most expensive stadium in U.S. sports history.
The owners of the Giants and Jets say they, too, believe joining forces may be the best hope for the Bay Area's two teams to build a new stadium, especially in such dire economic times. The $1.6 billion Jets-Giants stadium in New Jersey will use new video technology to broadcast each team's colors and logo throughout the stadium for home games — allowing two rival franchises with different histories and fan bases to feel at home.
The 49ers have not begun formal discussions with the Raiders, but the team plans to expand the scope of its environmental review in Santa Clara for a stadium that could accommodate two teams playing at least 20 games a year.
"The NFL has encouraged us to explore the possibility of a two-team facility to address the economics" of building a new stadium, Jed York, the 49ers president, said in an interview with the Mercury News last week.