Joe Montana Led Group to Build Five-Star Hotel at San Francisco 49ers Stadium

Legendary NFL quarterback Joe Montana has begun discussions with Santa Clara leaders to build a four- or five-star hotel across from the San Francisco 49ers stadium.

The City Council on Tuesday night voted 4-2 to begin exclusive negotiations with the business group fronted by Montana. The vote was expected after officials in July promised to cooperate with Montana, who excited Niners fans when he unveiled the idea at a public meeting last year.

City leaders and Montana’s group will have one year to battle over how much money the Hall of Fame player and his associates will contribute to the Santa Clara general fund for the right to build on city-owned land. Montana says he has the money to build a luxury hotel garnering at least four stars, a sports bar, an “upscale” restaurant and “additional entertainment uses” that would open with the new Niners stadium before the 2014 NFL season.

“This is a no-brainer,” said Councilman Kevin Moore, a stadium supporter, who joked that apparently there was no interest from former superstar quarterback Brett Favre.

The project will be built on two city-owned lots totaling eight acres at Tasman Drive and Centennial Boulevard. Construction on half the land cannot start until work on an adjacent, new parking garage is complete later this year, while the other half is being used to store vehicles and equipment for the stadium project.