Super Bowl Excitement Grips Bay Area

Fans flock to Levi's Stadium ahead of big game, while San Francisco braces for influx of visitors

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:55pm

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With Super Bowl LX just a week away, excitement is building across the Bay Area as fans descend on Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and San Francisco prepares for an influx of visitors. While many can't afford tickets to the big game, they're still eager to soak up the atmosphere and get as close to the action as possible.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and hosting it brings a major economic boost to the Bay Area. However, the influx of fans and traffic also presents logistical challenges for local officials, who are working to make transportation and other services run as smoothly as possible.

The details

Fans have already started arriving at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, where the game will be played, to get a glimpse of the preparations. While they can't afford tickets to the game itself, they're eager to experience the Super Bowl atmosphere. Some, like Ernesto Gutierrez and his 16-year-old son, have driven from as far as San Jose just to see the stadium. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie is recommending that people use public transportation to get around the city during the Super Bowl, as traffic is already noticeably heavier. The city is also running longer Muni trains to accommodate the expected crowds.

  • Fans have already started showing up in Santa Clara, where Levi's Stadium is located.
  • The Super Bowl is scheduled for February 8, 2026.

The players

Ernesto Gutierrez

A San Jose resident who brought his 16-year-old son to Levi's Stadium to get a glimpse of the Super Bowl preparations.

Keila Sinforiano

A fan who considers herself Bad Bunny's biggest fan and came to the stadium just to be closer to where he'll perform during the halftime show.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco, who is recommending that people use public transportation to get around the city during the Super Bowl due to increased traffic.

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What they’re saying

“It looks nice. I would like to have more red and gold in there, but this is nice to have in our city, in our Bay Area. It's good. It's good for the economy and all around here.”

— Ernesto Gutierrez (nbcbayarea.com)

“I've never experienced the Super Bowl in real life... so I am really excited to see it in person.”

— Leonal Barajas (nbcbayarea.com)

“I saw the requirements. You had to be 5'7" and I am unfortunately just 4'11". I still submitted my application, but unfortunately, I was not selected.”

— Keila Sinforiano (nbcbayarea.com)

What’s next

The teams competing in Super Bowl LX are scheduled to arrive in the Bay Area on Sunday, February 2nd.

The takeaway

The excitement surrounding the Super Bowl has gripped the Bay Area, with fans flocking to Levi's Stadium and San Francisco bracing for an influx of visitors. While the game will provide an economic boost, local officials are working to ensure transportation and other services can handle the increased demand.