This story seemed to fly under the radar with Great America and the 49ers.

I looked through the news section and didn't find anything. This story posted May 8th and it seems the Santa Clara city can go over CF's head to move forward with the proposed stadium. Solution: build a parking garage for Great America guests to offset the parking spaces that GA would lose.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9200090

Another development is that CF might not be able to build their proposed 2009 wooden coaster. It seems a major company right next to the park is opposed and it also seems CF wants their cake and eat it too. These 2 stories don't paint a positive picture for CF.

http://www.santaclaraweekly.com/NC/0/806.html

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/ci_8807476

Always seemed like the uber-early announcement of the '09 coaster for the park was at least in part an effort to increase CF's perceived interest in the park...

NOT saying CF wouldn't want to keep the park operating where it is, but IF there were going to be negotiations with the city, then CF was going to profess their undying love of Santa Clara and the NorCal market: "You CAN get us to leave, but it's going to co$t you dearly". ;)

How does that not "paint a positive picture" of Cedar Fair? Those are hack opinion pieces from people who want a football stadium. I'll be the first to stand up and criticize Cedar Fair for doing stupid things, but the only thing I see is them looking out for their own interests, as any company should (especially a public company).

Chitown, it looks like Nortel is fighting fire with fire and playing CF's game. We don't know for sure that is what is happening but that certainly doesn't paint a great picture with the park.

It sounds like building the parking garage is the way out of this mess, but the problem there is 'who is going to pay for it?' If CF already has the long-term lease on the parking lot, why should they have to pay for it? Since Santa Clara owns the land being leased to CF, why should the 49'ers have to pay for it? But the 49'ers want to build the stadium in that location, so why should Santa Clara pay for the parking garage?

~Rob Willi

If the neighbors are worried about noise, they might as well take on San Jose International Airport! Sheesh. And WHO may I ask was in the area first?

Anyway, I'm bitter. I'd LOVE to see a nice woodie there. There IS room on the other side of the park though.

^"But the 49'ers want to build the stadium in that location, so why should Santa Clara pay for the parking garage?"

If any comapnies have been able to exploit the concept of corporate welfare, it's the pro sports franchises. Ask the Seattle Supersonics' fans...or the Baltimore Colts fans, or the original Browns fans, or the Montreal Expos fans, or the fans of the New Orleans Jazz....

Are wooden roller coaster louder than stadiums?

With the way the Niners have been playing the past few years...yes?

How many people could fit in a stadium that's less than 35 feet tall?

Depends on how deep it is.

Take a look at Dodgers Stadium. All bowl.

^ ^^ If the terrain is conducive to it. Dodger Stadium is in a ravine, no?

Of course, it doesn't matter, because you know the city will give the stadium whatever variances it requests.

Second article down on this page. Here's a little snip of it.

"Last week, Santa Clara's planning commission voted 5-1 for the height exemption (35 feet is usually the maximum). They said Prudential's concerns about noise were unfounded."

Just a heads up as this flew under the radar as well.

~Rob Willi