City Council
November 18, 2025
Item 8.3
Ma j o r Ev e n t s
Status R eport
Tommy O’Hare, 2026 Sports and Special Events Director, City Manager’s Office Kerry Adams-Hapner, Director of Cultural Affairs, City Manager’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs
Ray Riordan, Director, City Manager’s Office of Emergency Management John Poch, Executive Director, San José Sports Authority
MARKETING & WAYFINDING
⚬ Street Pole Banners
￭ NWSL and SJ26 are up
￭ Super Bowl, NCAA, and World Cup Banners
to follow
⚬ Paid Media Campaign
￭ Running and focused on World Cup hotel
roo
ms
￭ Super Bowl campaign will start in Jan.
⚬ Wayfinding
￭ New signs being installed
￭ Sidewalk stencils coming in Jan.
￭ Interactive Map being added to SJ26.org
1 San Jose is hosting
the world’s best sports
events.
SJ26.ORG
Get in on the
sports action.
• Team San José
⚬ SJ26 Table Toppers + Flyers
⚬ Industry Email Newsletter with business
opportuni
ties
⚬ Creative Industries & Business Hospitality BASH held
Nov. 13
• SJDA + Neighborhood Business
Partners
+ OEDCA
⚬ Business Toolkit
⚬ Webinars
⚬ Eastside Small Business Town Hall, Dec. 8
⚬ Door to Door Outreach
⚬ Premium Hospitality Marketing
LOCAL BUSINESS PREPARATIONS
2 Bay Area Sports Legends in San José:
• Inspiring the next generation of leaders
• Building excitement for SJ26
• Working to layer into existing programs with
San Jose Sports Teams
• Speaking to schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, etc.
• In person and over Zoom
• Companion mobile app will launch in Jan.
NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMMING
3 ART INSTALLATIONS & NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVATIONS
• City Hall Exhibit featuring sports-themed artwork by
local artists: January – July 2026
• Elizabeth Turk Projects’ Invisible Skies – City Hall
Plaza, January 31, 2026
• SJSU CADRE program art project and projection
mapping
• CityDance – genres curated based on FIFA competing
teams
• Partnership with Directors Alliance for activations in neighborhood business districts: soccer clinics,
concert series, watch parties
4 Putting Our Best Face Forward an
Keeping Everyone Safe
• Public Right-of-Way Management:
Inter-departmental Working Group – assessments,
mapping, proactive infrastructure improvements and
support to sheltered residents.
• Public Safety:
Office of Emergency Management, Police, Fire
engagement with NFL, FIFA, and Federal Bureau of
Investigations. Planning and coordination with federal, state, county, VTA, Human Trafficking Task Forces, and
private companies. Extended series of trainings and exercises. 5 WHAT WE'RE LEARNING
• Hosted Watch Party in San Pedro Square
Valkyrie’s First Playoff Game, Sept. 17
8 San José Rock ‘n’ Roll, Oct. 4-5
• Bands, Performances, Festival
• Unveiling of Sharks Way
Sharks Season Opener & Festival, Oct. 9
6 2025 NWSL CHAMPIONSHIP
WEEK
• Nov. 19 - NWSL Awards Show @ Montgomery
Theater
• Nov. 20 - NWSL Media Day @ San José Civic
• Nov. 21 - NWSL Skills Contest @ San José State
• Nov. 22- NWSL Fan Fest @ Creekside Socials
• Nov. 22 - NWSL Championship Game @ PayPal
Park (Kickoff at 5pm)
HAPPENING THIS WEEK
7 SPORTS MERCHANDISE & VISITORS CENTER
• Public Opening Dec. 15, 2025
• SJ26 Sports Merchandise Super Store
⚬ Selling licensed apparel for our San José and South Bay Teams ⚬ Selling SJ26 Branded Merchandise
• Boost Local Businesses
⚬ The visitor's center will partner with the San José Downtown Association, Chamber of Commerce and Visit San José
• Power Up Zone
⚬ Amenities for visitors will include charging stations, and wi-fi, to help improve the overall experience
93 E. San Carlos Street
8 • Concerts with National Headlining Artists
Feb. 2, 6, and 7, March 26, 27, 28 and June 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and July 1
• 100+ Watch Parties
Dec. 5 , Feb. 8, March 26, 27, 28, 29, and June 11 to July 19 • Drone Shows
Feb. 2 and 6, March 26, and 5 during the World Cup
• Projection Mapping
Feb. 2, 6, 7, 8; March 26, 27, 28 and June 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and July 1
SAN JOSE FANFESTS
9 Ma y Jun Jun - Jul Oc t No v De c
X
2 5
2 0
Te a m
Dr a w
Wa t ch
Party
2025 EVENTS
Ap r
10 Fe b Ma r Ma y Jun - Jul Jul Au g Oc t No v
2026 EVENTS
11 City Council
November 18, 2025
Item 8.3
Ma j o r Ev e n t s
Status R eport
Tommy O’Hare, 2026 Sports and Special Events Director, City Manager’s Office Kerry Adams-Hapner, Director of Cultural Affairs, City Manager’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs
Ray Riordan, Director, City Manager’s Office of Emergency Management John Poch, Executive Director, San José Sports Authority 12