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Alabama-Clemson national championship game will cost San Francisco 49ers about $10 million
Either Alabama or Clemson will suffer a defeat in Monday’s national championship game, but another football team that won’t even take the field will also walk away as a big loser.
The San Francisco 49ers are expected to lose between $8 million and $12 million for the game in Santa Clara, California, according to a report from Forbes.
Though Levi’s Stadium is owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, the 49ers operate the venue and are responsible for the $25 million required to stage the game and other related events. Compared with the expected revenue of $15 million from the contest, that means the 49ers will shell out a boatload of money to host two teams from across the country.
The financial loss coincides with plummeting ticket prices for the game, which is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET.
Forbes notes that the 49ers generated more than $1 billion in revenue thanks to Levi’s Stadium, but the franchise’s front office can’t be too pleased with losing so much money on a game that doesn’t even involve the team.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.