By Robert Haugh
Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium will host six World Cup matches in 2026, including five group-stage games on June 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25, plus a round of 32 match on July 1.
KRON reports that a name change is possible. Janine De La Vega, the City’s Public Information Officer, told KRON: “It is our understanding that any name change for Levi’s Stadium during the FIFA World Cup 2026 event is a matter of ongoing discussions between the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) and FIFA.”
But sources tell Santa Clara News Online that a name change is likely already a done deal, with the BAHC delaying the official announcement, and Levi’s may not be aware they are losing a global marketing opportunity.
FIFA’s strict sponsorship rules require that only official tournament sponsors be associated with World Cup venues. All existing stadium branding and signage not aligned with FIFA’s sponsorship deals must be covered or removed.
This has led to similar name changes at other host venues, such as Hard Rock Stadium becoming “Miami Stadium” and AT&T Stadium being renamed “Dallas Stadium” for the event.
The BAHC is still working to finalize event preparations, but fundraising remains a huge problem for them.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the 49ers and the BAHC are facing a $37 million fundraising gap, with the state budget offering only $10 million in support.
The projected costs for hosting the matches could reach $50 million, with FIFA contributing just $13 million.
This is a developing story.
Not a peep from the “49er Five”— why am I not surprised. The chance to make a dent in that despicable group came and went — why weren’t David Kertes or Teresa O’Neill elected — can someone please explain that? What part of paying through the nose don’t folks understand? Asking for a friend.
What IS The Point of hosting FIFA for Santa Clara?? Our very esteemed City Council has blindly rubberstamped approving Everything Uncle Jed demanded for FIFA. For What? To What End? We all know very well that when the Levi’s signage is changed, the temporary name will in NO WAY have anything to do reflecting the City of Santa Clara, the only city in the Bay Area that will be Completely on the Hook for literally millions of dollars. Why Are We Doing This??? We have been sold a bill of goods on How Great FIFA would be for putting Santa Clara on the world map!! hahaha This is what we get for having a B-List City Attorney and City Manager, whose past decision sure seem to favor the 49ers, “negotiate, (lol)” with an adversarial group of high-priced, East Coast Attorneys.
Our little city and its taxpayers are going to be on the hook for upwards of $70,000,000 dollars and yet Levi’s Stadium will be most likely changed to “SAN FRANCISCO STADIUM” FOR THE FIFA TOURNAMENT.I hope the predictions floating all around the internet that the games will all be moved to domed stadiums due to heat concerns all come true and FIFA in Santa Clara will go away. When David Kertes was running he predicted how much the city would be . on the hook for, What a shame the 49ers bought the last election and he lost by a couple hundered votes to someone selling out our City
I suggest we re-name it ‘Suckers Center’.
This reflects what the residents are for not paying attention and electing the 49er 5.
A resident centered council & resulting staff would have prevented much of this. IMEO
If there was a tax on attendees of all events at the stadium, the 6 World Cup Games would bring in about $1 million each game. For some reason city leaders are unwilling to go after the big money by leaving the big players alone. The stadium, data centers, and big tech should be targeted as cash cows for the city.
Just two Question.
How does any of this help the average resident of our City?
Why is it that the City of Santa Clara gets all the risk, yet the 49ers of San Francisco get all the rewards?
Curious to hear any explanation from our City Staff, and maybe some options that we might have to avoid exposing our City to such “BS” Cost, especially with no matching risk / reward to merit these expenditures.
By the way didn’t the 49ers just ask to get us, the residents, to pay for their new Levi Stadium signs last year because they were looking a bit faded?
As they say…. you can look it up.
https://santaclaranews.org/2022/03/17/49ers-want-to-replace-levis-stadium-sign-and-want-santa-clara-taxpayers-to-pay-a-potential-1-3-million/
Burt Field
78′ Buchser Grad
Can City staff that “negotiated” this deal with the 49ers and FIFA please inform the public of what happens to the Stadium Authority’s Naming Rights revenue in 2026?
I nominate Charles Ponzi. Ponzi Stadoum.
This is exactly what I said the cost would be to Residents when I was campaigning for District 5 council seat. If you add the SuperBowl it could be closer to $70M.