Niners and Raiders - Roommates? More Like the Odd Couple.

Insert teams here.

I can't figure out what to make of the 49ers' and Raiders' recent discussions about sharing a new stadium. On one hand, it makes sense as the most likely scenario for both teams to receive enough funding to build a new facility (especially if they are depending on money from The League). On the other hand, I can't see the Raiders playing their home games across the bay in a region that has a fraction of the fanbase the 49ers still have (as much as the city of San Francisco whines about the 49ers belonging to the 415 area code, the majority of their ticketholders and fanbase come from the peninsula and south bay).

Let's suppose the 49ers and Raiders agree to become stadium co-owners. Realistically, where would this stadium be located? Aside from Treasure Island, is there any logical "halfway point" that makes geographic sense for both teams? Not really, unless you travel south to Santa Clara/San Jose. And if you think Al Davis and co. are going to put up $500 million for a new stadium in the Niners' backyard where the vast majority of Raider fans will have to travel a great distance to, you haven't been paying attention to the NFL for the past, oh, say 40 years or so.

If the Raiders and Niners become stadium partners, you can toss out the Santa Clara stadium and start from scratch. Again.

Update: Mark Purdy wrote an interesting article in the Merc this morning regarding possible locations - dig this:

One sure thing: San Francisco is not a viable option, despite what you may hear. Former 49ers executive Carmen Policy is being paid by a development company to spin positive pap about a potential stadium at Hunters Point Naval Shipyards, a windblown promontory where radioactive waste was once buried. Not surprisingly, York has put the Hunters Point option on the back burner and informed people that if the Santa Clara project ever collapsed, Oakland was the 49ers' next option, not San Francisco.