A New 49ers Practice Facility: Where, When, and How Much?

A solution probably takes two years

Aug 4, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers train with a general view of the practice field and stadium at SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY SportsPractice faciloty | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Whether you believe in the injury-inducing powers of the Substation or not, the Niners need more room for a new practice facility. Add that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has built a high-rise hotel with an unobstructed view of the current practice fields, and moving just makes sense.

But to move, they need a location. The open land plots nearby such as at Coyote Creek have greenbelt policies and zoning restrictions. Most of the open land spots in the South Bay would require going south to Morgan Hill or Gilroy. That’s too far out.

A temporary solution through the local schools like Stanford, San Jose State, or De Anza is just that, temporary. The former Raiders facility in Alameda doesn’t fit due to location; the Niners want it within reasonable driving distance of Levi’s.

The most likely solution is more subtle: the purchase of an unused business park or R&D and development site, and then converting it into the new practice facility. Using Google and AI searches, a few possibilities emerge.

BioCube Site

2660-2740 Zanker Road and Junction Avenue in North San Jose.

An over 15-acre plot that just went through foreclosure. About 4.5 miles south of Levi’s on Zanker. The existing buildings could be converted into team facilities, and the site has the available land to install practice fields.

Four Corners Site

North First Street and East Plumeria Drive, also encompassing Daggett Drive and Zanker Road in North San Jose.

This massive 24-acre plot intended for a business and high-tech campus hasn’t sold well. 4.2 miles east of Levi’s, next to 880. That much space would appeal to the Niners as a long-term home.

Rio Tech Office Site                                                        

North First Street and Rio Robles in North San Jose.

A seven-building, 15-to-18-acre campus with partial recent sales for way below market. 3.5 miles northwest of Levi’s.

Estimated development costs of these options would vary from $35-$70 million, and that’s separate from acquiring the land. The timeline would be two years on a fast-track from initial site control to design and engineering, demolition, site prep, the field installation and build-out.

Regulations and all the legal and engineering work involved mandate two years. The Niners have options, but they aren’t cheap or quick.