Joe Montana pushing to build hotel across from new stadium

Joe Montana isn’t going to lead any fourth-quarter comebacks in the new stadium the San Francisco 49ers are building in Santa Clara.

But the Hall of Fame quarterback is leading a bid to place a luxury hotel smack dab across the street from the new stadium. Montana’s group got a green light from the Santa Clara City Council, according to the San Jose Mercury News, to begin exclusive negotiations with the city.

Montana’s outfit will have one year to reach an agreement over how much money should be paid to the city to build the hotel on what is currently city land. The plan is to have a new hotel open and running in time for the 2014 opening of the stadium.

Montana says the hotel will be at least a four star facility and will include a sports bar, upscale restaurant and “additional entertainment uses.”

The vote was 4-2 in favor with the objectors believing the bid should be opened up and not exclusively be given to Montana’s group. The land has been vacant for years.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune