Every once in a while, you meet a person who is just likeable.
They may not be famous, popular, or a star, they just seem to have some qualities that make them likeable.
When I think of Jim Mercurio, ‘a good guy’ comes to mind.
Mercurio is General Manager for our stadium and works for ManCo, Levi’s Stadium’s management company.
Now, you wouldn’t exactly say he is unassuming. Perhaps the opposite. With a six-foot five frame and shoulders broad enough to block a doorway, he does not appear to be an individual to argue with.
In person he is affable, bright, knowledgeable, articulate and cooperative. To watch him in action at City Council or a Stadium Authority meeting you must be impressed that such an imposing figure could be so gentle.
Then you must wonder how this City Council and Mayor could display such disdain towards him when he delivers his regular report.
You can feel the contempt and scorn pouring forth from the Mayor and her cronies as they berate Mercurio for doing his job or in their mind…not.
It doesn’t seem to matter how capable he is, how gifted his skill in maneuvering the issues, he can do nothing right in the eyes of this Council.
Yet, Mercurio, showing the patience of Job, answers every question with substance, serenity and understanding.
This Council has been looking at anything that would eradicate the ManCo contract to manage the stadium.
They continue to uphold the ridiculous weeknight curfew that wiped out the possibility of two nights a year of sold out venues. Then, last week reported ManCo was not upholding their promise to deliver their projected profits.
Brian Doyle, our City Attorney and self-appointed financial analyst, stated he didn’t think the loss of the curfew events were the cause of the loss.
How about you leave the finances to Angela Kraetsch and don’t quit your day job?
Let’s see, two events a year eliminates about $700,000 per event.
Two times $700,000 is…surprise…$1,400,000.
And now you wish to blame ManCo for not delivering?
What are these Council Members and the City Attorney smoking?
Folks, we own one of the best stadiums in the entire Country. It was designed for and approved for the community to benefit from events held at the stadium.
Eliminating two major events a year was not a 49er decision, it was this Mayor’s and Council’s.
In the Council’s short-sighted decision, they made no provision to make up the loss at the stadium or any other way that we can see.
What option do they have but to blame ManCo as managers? It couldn’t be their own haste to harm that caused this damage.
When you peel the banana of intrigue, this self-inflicted shortfall is self-made.
