San Jose’s quest to build a robust entertainment lineup around the major sporting events coming to Silicon Valley in 2026 has hit a key fundraising milestone, with several local and national companies and philanthropic organizations chipping in big bucks to make its vision a reality.
Mayor Matt Mahan announced Wednesday that the city and the San Jose Sports Authority have raised nearly $5 million to help put on over 100 watch parties, 13 concerts, seven drone shows and projection mapping events with the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and FIFA World Cup taking place in the South Bay over the next several months.
“From national headliners like Kehlani to watch parties at San Pedro Square, we’re going big to make sure San José residents have a chance to be a part of the action even without a ticket to the big games,” Mahan said in a news release. “But that is only possible because so many of our hometown companies and local entrepreneurs are leaning in and giving back. They want to show the world what we know well here at home — San Jose is becoming a destination not just for innovation, but for activation.”
2026 marks the first time the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup matches will be held in the same metro area.
Super Bowl LX takes place on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Levi’s Stadium will also host five World Cup group stage games — involving teams like Qatar, Austria, Jordan, Switzerland, Paraguay, Australia and Algeria — and one Round of 32 knockout game in July. The SAP Center will host the NCAA’s Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games on March 26 and 28.
Between the three marquee sporting events, city officials estimated they could generate $1.4 billion in economic impact throughout the Bay Area.
The last time Levi’s Stadium hosted the Super Bowl in 2016, most of the activity centered in San Francisco, prompting San Jose to prioritize event planning during this go-around to attract more visitors and create a better atmosphere for fans and residents, even if they didn’t have a ticket to one of the big games.
While the NFL selected San Jose to host the Opening Night media festivities at the McEnery Convention Center, the NFL has already announced that most of its sponsored events and concerts will be held in San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
For example, the Moscone Center will host the Pro Bowl and the fan experience event. The NFL also announced it would host an innovation summit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on Feb. 6.
Several major artists, including Sting, Calvin Harris, Chris Stapleton and Martin Garrix, also have concerts planned during Super Bowl week in San Francisco.
San Jose already has announced the first two major events it plans to hold in front of City Hall during Super Bowl week. Kehlani, an Oakland-native and Grammy-nominated R&B artist, will headline a block party on Feb. 6, while internationally-recognized DJ DOM DOLLA will top an open-air street party scheduled for Feb. 7.
Sponsors of the events include eBay, Adobe, Google, Verizon, PG&E, Samsung Semiconductor, Sharks Sports Entertainment, the Knight Foundation and local companies like Devcon Construction and Casino M8trix.
While the city has hit a major milestone about a month before the Super Bowl, its fundraising efforts are not yet finished.
“We are incredibly grateful to the amazing civic-minded companies that have stepped up as San José 2026 Partners for the San José Sports Authority,” said John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority. “Their generous contributions not only help us bring world-class sporting events to our city but also create opportunities for our residents and visitors to experience the excitement and pride that sports bring to a community. This incredible group of community champions are what truly makes San Jose such a special place to live, work and play. Together, we are showcasing San José as a premier destination for sports and entertainment while driving economic vitality and fostering lasting memories for everyone involved.”
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