2026
Major Events Status Report
Community and Economic Development Committee
June 16, 2025
Item d(2)
Tommy O’Hare
2026 Sports and Special Events Director
City Manager’s Office
1 • City Manager’s Office, 2026 Sports & Special Events Director
• City Manager’s Office of Economic Development &
Cultural Affairs
• Office Emergency Management
• Police
• Fire
• Airport
• Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement
• Public Works
• Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
• Transportation
• Housing
• City Attorney’s Office
• Bay Area Host Committee
• San José Sports Authority
• San José Sharks
• San José Earthquakes
• San José State University
• San José Chamber of Commerce
• San José Downtown Association
• SAP Center
• SV Creates
• Team San José
• Urban Vibrancy Institute
City Staff Team2026 Partners Coordination Group
2 2
SJ26 Strategic Plan
Three Objectives measured by
Key Results:
Build strong civic pride
Maximize Local Economic Impact,
While Creating Lasting Community
Value
P
osition the City as a premier
destination for large-scale national
and international events
Work Streams:
1. Branding
2. Marketing
3. Sponsorship
4. Event/Programming
5. Policy Work
6. Public Rights-o f-Way
Managemetn
7. Public Safety/Emergency
O
perations
3 3
SJ26
CELEBRATING, GROWING, & INVESTING
BUILDING CIVIC GROWING
SAN JOSE’S
ECONOMYPRIDE
ESTABLISHING
THE DOWNTOWN
SILICON VALLEY
4 4
• Major Block Party Style
E
vents w/Watch Parties
and Concerts
• Digital Wayfinding
S
olutions
• Super Graphics
• Fly, Stay, Play Campaign
• Outreach Programs
• SJ26 Sponsorship
P
rogram
Big Rocks: Drives Awareness
Users, Revenue
Layering In
San José
Culture &
Technology
5 2026 W est
NCAA WEST REGIONAL
SAN JOSE’S HISTORIC 2026
1st time Super Bowl and World Cup, Hosted in the same location • Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight
(3
games total) at SAP Center
• NCAA HQ, Media, Officials and
Te
ams all staying in San José
• Youth Basketball Tournament
at th
e San José Convention
Center
• Hosting Opening Media Day
at S
AP Center in San José
• NF C or AFC Team Staying at
the
Downtown San José
Marriott
• NFC or AFC Team to practice
at Sa
n José State
2026 SUPER BOWL FIFA WORLD CUP
• FIFA HQ - San José S ignia
• Team Hotels - Sa n José
Marriott & San José
Hilton
• Team Practice Venue at
Pa
yPal Park or San José
State
SJ26
6 6
WE’RE GOING BIG
13 Concerts with National Headliners
(Recent Concerts: Fischer & Steve Aoki)
• Super Bowl
• NCAA March Madness
• FIFA World Cup7
7 107 WATCH PARTIES
In the heart of San Pedro Square
• Super Bowl Sunday
• FIFA: Every World Cup Match
• NCAA: All Regional Games
9 9
10 • Elizabeth Turk Projects’ Inv isible Skies – City
Hall Plaza, January 31, 2026
• WeCreate408 curated to emphasize
cre
ativity and sports
• Make Music Day – June 21, 2026
• CityDance – gen res curated based on FIFA
competing teams
• Sonic Runway – per formances with music
genres and themes curated to participating
teams
• Temporary Public Art and Projection
Mapping
• Cit
y Hall Exhibit featuring sports-them ed
artwork by local artists – January thru July
2026
Art I nstallations and Activations
11 11
Arts and Culture Marketing Opportunities
Calendar for events and programming
•www.sanjose.org/industry
•Will be used to pitch to media and
pro
moted on social
media/communications
Arts grants for “The Art of Play” coop
marketing buys via Visit San Jose
•$10-15K grants to 10-
15 events/orgs
•Will provide data analytics
•Guidelines under development, summer
rele
ase
•Will include a grant workshop
12 12
Policy Work to Facilitate 2026 Major Events
13 Super Graphics
Ordinance
• Approved by Council
May 20, 2025
• Sponsorship program
for City-owned
properties
Major Events
Zone Ordinance
• June 17, 2025, Council
item
Entertainment Zone
Ordinance
• Approved by Council May
20,
2025; effective July
• Zone locations: Alum Rock
Avenue, Fountain Alley,
Paseo de San Antonio, Post
Street, St. John Street (soon
to be designated “Little Italy
Way” and “Sharks Way”),
San Pedro Street, and SoFA
133
14 14
2026 W est
2026 LINEUP
Feb Mar Jun - Jul Jul Oct NovMay
15 2026
Major Events Status Report
Community and Economic Development Committee
June 16, 2025
Item d(2)
Tommy O’Hare
2026 Sports and Special Events Director
City Manager’s Office
16