November 29th 2024.
In an effort to ensure the success of the major sporting events coming to San Jose in 2026, Mayor Matt Mahan has put out a call for a temporary "sports czar". This position will oversee and coordinate the various events, including the Super Bowl LX, FIFA World Cup, and NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and is seen as a critical investment for the city. With the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact, San Jose is determined to make the most of these opportunities.
However, the city has learned from past experiences and wants to avoid any missed opportunities this time around. When Santa Clara hosted the Super Bowl in 2016, San Jose felt that it did not receive its fair share of the economic benefits. Despite the teams playing and staying in San Jose, the majority of the economic impact went to San Francisco. This time, the city is determined to change that perception and showcase its own assets, such as the weather, transit infrastructure, airport, and hotel capacity.
The events at Levi's Stadium, as well as the NCAA Men's Basketball regional tournament at the SAP Center, are expected to bring in a significant amount of economic activity to the South Bay. To ensure the success of these events, the city has added a temporary executive position to this year's budget, with a salary range of $202,146 to $327,870. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in sports management, event planning, public administration, or business administration.
Currently, the city is in the process of screening applications and will hold interviews in December. Mayor Mahan has emphasized the importance of direct experience in coordinating large-scale sporting and entertainment events, and hopes to have the position filled soon. In the meantime, the city has already begun the policy work and marketing efforts to engage various departments and business partners, such as the Bay Area Host Committee, San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and the city's professional teams.
One of the key initiatives is the "Fly, Stay, and Play" campaign, which encourages tourists to use the San Jose Mineta International Airport and take advantage of the city's proximity to all the sporting venues. The city is also vying to host the Super Bowl's media day, which could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact and showcase San Jose as the first and last stop for the week's events.
In addition to the immediate economic boost, local leaders see these events as an opportunity to reshape any false narratives about the city. With the potential for thousands of visitors, there is also a chance to showcase the city's progress in areas such as public safety, lighting, and public art. The city's block parties have also grown in popularity, drawing thousands of people this year alone. The temporary director will play a crucial role in bringing all of these pieces together and highlighting the city's amazing neighborhoods.
Last year, a poll found that a majority of people had no reason to visit downtown San Jose. However, Mayor Mahan notes that nights and weekends are at 120% of pre-pandemic levels, thanks to the city's cultural events and restaurant scene. With more eyes on the city, the temporary director has the opportunity to shine a light on all that San Jose has to offer. As Mayor Mahan puts it, "We need this person to own the execution of the day-to-day operations. The biggest investment we're making for 2026 is bringing this person in."
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
