By Robert Haugh
At last night’s Stadium Authority meeting, Santa Clarans finally got a glimpse of what hosting the Super Bowl in six months may cost the City.
City staff estimated that City services — mostly public safety — will cost $6.3 million. That figure could rise as more expenses become known.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor warned that 2026 will be especially costly because Santa Clara will also host multiple World Cup games next year.
The Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), a nonprofit created by the 49ers, has pledged to raise money and pay the City’s cost. But BAHC has no assets, and there have been multiple reports that their fundraising is doing poorly.
The BAHC’s President and CEO Zaileen Janmohamed phoned into the meeting but would not disclose how much money the group has raised.
Gilmor questioned the proposed use of StadCo, the 49ers’ stadium operations company, to guarantee the City’s Super Bowl costs if the BAHC fails to raise enough money as promised.
Councilmember Kevin Park downplayed the risk, saying the $6.3 million was not a big deal compared to Santa Clara’s $1.7 billion combined budget.
Park may have forgotten that voters passed Measure J in 2010, which prohibits any general fund money from being spent on stadium events.
Park is one of the 49er Five. Park was elected to the City Council with the help of the team’s multimillion-dollar independent expenditures to support his campaigns.
Several major questions remain unanswered:
- VIP Security Costs – Expenses for last-minute dignitary visits, including the President of the United States.
- Youth Soccer Park – How it will be used during Super Bowl events and who will pay for repairs if it suffers major damage, as it did during the last Super Bowl.
- 24/7 Security at Hotels – Potential City costs to provide around-the-clock security for NFL officials or teams staying locally.
- Reimbursement Delays – Gillmor and Councilmember Kelly Cox both raised concerns that the City may face lengthy waits for reimbursement since the team must approve expenditures. That could tie up City funds for months or even years, with disputes only resolved through binding arbitration.
Gillmor said the public will remain financially at risk unless the BAHC, StadCo, or the 49ers provide stronger guarantees, such as a Letter of Credit or a bond, to ensure the City is paid back.
The Stadium Authority will revisit the issue and vote to amend or approve an agreement at its September 16 meeting.
Let’s ask Nvidia to cover the costs. They don’t do shit for our city. Jensen Hwang has not shown the he cares at all about our community.
Can someone explain to me how the city can be less than 6 months to the biggest sporting event in the world and is still only has a DRAFT agreement on costs? How is this not locked up before ever agreeing to host the event in the first place? All the promises from the host committee and the stadium authority are only as good as the paper they’re written on….. which seems to be no paper at all.
This article is again misleading.
Because the article never spelled out StadCo’s guarantee, it made it sound like the City could simply be stuck with millions in unpaid costs. That isn’t the full truth.
• The real risk is cash-flow (temporary strain on City funds).
• The Mayor’s push for a letter of credit or bond is about ensuring the City gets reimbursed quickly and without a fight, not because there’s no obligation to repay.
So yes, the article’s framing was misleading. It leaned toward a “worst-case” picture without explaining the protections already in place.
Watched meeting. Lordy, the City Attorney and City Manager came across as slick car salesmen. What a lemon of a deal the City got after all this time. Isn’t there a 3 day rule to return this crap?
Here are all the facts as we know as of today.
■ Who Pays for the Super Bowl?
What Santa Clarans Need to Know About the $6.3 Million Price Tag
Q: How much will it cost Santa Clara to host the Super Bowl?
■ City staff estimate about $6.3 million for police, fire, traffic, and other services. The final bill could be
higher.
Q: Can the City use tax dollars for this?
■ No. Measure J (2010) prohibits spending general fund money on stadium events.
Q: So who’s supposed to pay?
■ A nonprofit called the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) is responsible for reimbursing the City.
Q: What if BAHC doesn’t raise enough money?
■ The 49ers’ stadium company (StadCo) must cover any shortfall. That’s written into the draft
agreement.
Q: What are the risks?
• BAHC has not revealed how much money it’s raised.
• If there are disputes over costs, the City pays upfront and could wait months (or longer) for
reimbursement.
• Big unknowns include:
– VIP visits (like the President)
– 24/7 hotel security for NFL officials
– Repairs at the Youth Soccer Park
Q: Could Santa Clara be left holding the bag?
■ Unlikely in the long run, since StadCo is supposed to pay if BAHC can’t.
■ Possible in the short run, if reimbursements are delayed or disputed. That’s why Mayor Gillmor is
asking for stronger guarantees (like a bond or letter of credit).
Bottom Line
Santa Clarans shouldn’t pay for the Super Bowl, but without stronger guarantees, City funds could be
tied up temporarily covering costs.
A non profit does not pay for police and fire.
State pays nothing. NEWSOM totally oblivious.
A story that has been neglected for months is Newsom’s false claims of a baseball scholarship at SCU
He never lived in the area he claims to have in Santa Clara. No coach, no baseball person has have heard of this. Pls cover
What a precarious financial situation our city is in, one that will follow us far into the future.
Well, isn’t it reassuring to know that in Santa Clara, the qualifications for making big financial decisions on behalf of the public apparently include “forgetting” to pay thousands in property taxes? It’s almost poetic—who better to decide where our hard-earned dollars should go than someone who’s shown a complete disregard for paying their own share?
After all, what’s a few delinquent tax notices when the city council is busy championing the financial interests of the 49ers football team? Clearly, the needs of a multi-million dollar sports franchise take precedence over those pesky little details like funding schools, roads, and public safety. Why invest in citizens who responsibly pay their taxes, when you can funnel benefits to a football team that’s already rolling in profits and glory?
Perhaps we should all aspire to this level of fiscal creativity. Just imagine: if every resident simply “forgot” their property taxes, maybe we’d get a seat at the table to decide where the city’s budget goes. Who needs civic responsibility when you can ignore your obligations and still wield influence over millions in tax revenue?
And for those Santa Clara citizens who did the right thing, paid on time, and expected their representatives to advocate for their interests? Well, maybe next season. Right now, the only winning team is the one on the field—and apparently, in the council chambers.
In summary: Santa Clara—where owing taxes is a qualification, and football is king. Bravo!
Why has Suds suddenly gone silent here on SCNO? What happened Suds? This is so unlike you to not make a snide comment about SCNOj, and its readers, when a truthful and accurate report is written and published. Suds and Park both need to be recalled now. Hey Suds, why did you waste almost $750,000 for a special election last year that was DOOMED FOR FAILURE?? This entire council is a joke aside from Ms. Cox and our Mayor.
Suds Jain a/k/a Roger is so busy writing diatribes on several media sites that he probably didn’t have time read his packet. Besides, it was a 49er item.
You are exactly spot on!!!
Thanks for speaking the truth.
Santa Clara has all the leverage at this late date. The Council should just vote unanimously that they will not approve any Super Bowl contract unless the NFL writes the City a check up front. Jed York and his fellow owners have no where else to go at this point. Once again City staff has demonstrated their utter incompetence.
Good old Park
His lbj moment
Remember
A billion and a billion there.
What is 6.3 million
Last night I compared it to chernobyl. Grand jury to review fanatics and super bowl contracts.
Hope people are happy with me