By Robert Haugh
A new lawsuit over secret World Cup records could have direct relevance for Santa Clara where City staff and the 49er friendly City Council have hidden the true costs and benefits of major sporting events.
The First Amendment Coalition has sued San Jose State University, saying the school is improperly withholding public records tied to the Bay Area Host Committee. That’s the 49er created group helping bring the World Cup and Super Bowl to Levi’s Stadium.
The lawsuit was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court on behalf of freelance journalist Lance Williams.
Williams and San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ron Kroichick won an award for their coverage of the team’s political takeover of the Mission City.
They helped make the Chronicle the paper of record for the relationship between the team and the City.
Williams is seeking the nondisclosure agreement signed by SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson when she joined the Advisory Board of the Bay Area Host Committee.
FAC says SJSU is also withholding records about revenue, community impact and the expected economic effects of the games.
That matters because the Host Committee has estimated a $1.4 billion economic impact from the World Cup, Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game.
Williams says that number deserves scrutiny.
“While public officials spend taxpayer dollars chasing marquee sporting events, everyday Californians are being crushed by soaring gas, grocery, health, and housing costs,” Williams said in the FAC release.
“The public has the right to know exactly how the BAHC’s efforts are really affecting the state and its residents.”
According to FAC, Williams filed public records requests in April 2025 with several state and local agencies as part of his reporting on how the Host Committee courted the World Cup for the Bay Area.
SJSU released some records, but withheld Teniente-Matson’s NDA and other documents.
FAC argues the California Public Records Act requires disclosure and that public agencies cannot use nondisclosure agreements to shield communications involving public business.
“The public has the right to know whether and how public officials are working with outside organizations on matters that relate to public business,” said FAC Senior Staff Attorney Aaron Field. “And, they cannot use nondisclosure agreements to hide their communications with outsiders.”
The lawsuit asks the court to order SJSU to immediately release the nondisclosure agreement and the other records Williams requested.
Hats off to Lance Williams and Ron Kroichick for their continued time, effort and laborious work in this area. I think all we want is accountability….
Not too much to ask for, and not sure why the NDA was even needed.
My first guess is they didn’t want the residents to fully understand not just the financial impact, but also the logistical impact these types of events have on City’s and their residents.
Thanks Mr. Williams and Mr. Kroichick for looking out for us, and always Mr. Haugh for doing what he does for our City.
Just The Fact’s Ma’am
I love it. I never signed and NDA and I want to know in whose pockets our money went. Too bad we don’t have an honest BAHC. But we do have the best one money can buy, just like our city council. Too bad money seems to buy rotten fruit.