South Bay Fans Lament Super Bowl Spotlight on San Francisco

Levi's Stadium hosts Super Bowl LX, but official NFL events remain centered in San Francisco

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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For many fans in the South Bay, the Super Bowl's return to Levi's Stadium in San Jose feels like a repeat of the situation a decade ago for Super Bowl 50, when most of the official NFL events were held in San Francisco rather than the host city.

Why it matters

The South Bay has long felt overshadowed by San Francisco when it comes to major sporting events and the economic benefits they bring. This latest Super Bowl arrangement has reignited frustrations that San Jose is once again playing second fiddle to its northern neighbor.

The details

When Super Bowl 50 was held at Levi's Stadium in 2016, the majority of official NFL events and festivities took place in San Francisco, leaving many South Bay fans feeling their city was overlooked. A similar scenario has played out for Super Bowl LX, with San Francisco again serving as the primary host city for the league's marquee events.

  • Super Bowl 50 was held at Levi's Stadium in 2016.
  • Super Bowl LX is scheduled to take place at Levi's Stadium in 2026.

The players

Levi's Stadium

The home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers, located in Santa Clara, California.

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The takeaway

The ongoing tension between San Francisco and San Jose over the hosting of major sporting events like the Super Bowl highlights the longstanding rivalry and competition between the two cities in the Bay Area, with San Jose often feeling overshadowed by its more prominent neighbor to the north.