The Mission City Has More Than We Know

By Robert Haugh

We recently discussed the lack of nightlife and entertainment options in Santa Clara for young Silicon valley professionals.

While there are truly no long-term solutions to solving that problem, we think the Santa Clara Convention Center is a source of entertainment. Unfortunately, the majority of people in our city have little awareness about the many events happening across the street from California’s Great America and Levi’s Stadium.

Though the Convention Center suffers from aging infrastructure, and also from the shutdown of the Redevelopment Agency. According to the Center’s website, it brings over 60,000 guests to local hotels every year. Renovations and expansions have been done, such as the addition of the Mission City Ballroom, which opened in 2009.

We have to wonder what the Chamber of Commerce and City can do to better promote events held the Convention Center. There seems to be many great public events happening at the Convention Center, yet the City’s own homepage links directly to Levi’s Stadium events, not Convention Center events.

Recent and Upcoming Events

This past weekend (March 10-12), the GT Sports Marketing Expo was held. Among the sports stars attending included Jerry Rice, Dwight Clark, Bo Jackson, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Drew Brees, Marcus Mariota and many more. It is a sports aficionado’s heaven for meeting famous athletes and collect autographs.

Saturday, March 18: Evolution Sports Expo

Features MMA cage fights, boxing, kickboxing, professional wrestling, bodybuilding and fitness competitions, and “KidzFit” area.

The premier athlete-driven Expo in California, featuring over 2,000 top athletes in over 21 tournaments and competitions. The event also features over 100 vendors, celebrity appearances (MMA legend and movie star Cung Le was recently announced) as well as free seminars. Many vendors display sports and fitness products. Santa Clara’s own Milo’s Collectibles will be there and is the presenting sponsor of the pro wrestling component of the event.

Sunday, March 26 – Vice Ganda

Expecting 5,000 guests, Vice Ganda, a Filipino comedian, television presenter, actor, author and recording artist, appears here in the Mission City. He is best known for his stand-up routines, in which he addresses Filipino culture and human sexuality. He is also the first openly gay endorser of a major product in the Philippines.

It appears that the Convention Center is bustling with diverse events, with many ethnic and cultural celebrations, showcasing the growing diversity of Silicon valley and the Bay Area.

Perhaps there is much more going on around Santa Clara than you’d think. But you have to look hard. That should change.

Editor’s note: In the interest of full closure, the writer of the article is also the CEO and Founder of Wrestling For Charity which is the organizer of the pro wrestling at the Evolution Sports Expo.