Santa Clara committee maps community-led events, sponsorship push for 2026 Super Bowl, World Cup and U.S. 250th

Mayor Lisa Gilmore opened the June 23 Economic Development and Marketing ad hoc committee workshop at the Santa Clara Library, saying the group should be community-driven: "We want this to be your committee. This is your committee," she said.

City staff and a cross-sector stakeholder group used a mapping exercise and small-group reports to develop candidate events and locations tied to three major moments in 2026: the Super Bowl (February), six FIFA World Cup matches and the nation's 250th anniversary on July 4. Staff said the workshop is an early-stage step in a timeline that will lead to a proposed unified theme, an events list and budget/sponsorship planning to be returned to the committee for a vote.

The committee emphasized equity, local ownership and partnership with businesses as central goals. Elliot, a Harvard-Bloomberg fellow working with the city, described the engagement goals as "advancing equity," building relationships, generating knowledge and "mobilizing resources" so the community and city co-own programs.

Workshop outcomes and notable ideas

- Watch parties: Multiple tables identified Youth Soccer Park and Reed and Grant Sports Park (listed in reports as Reed and Grant) as suitable locations for large public watch parties tied to game days. - Concerts and performances: Santa Clara University and Mission College were noted as proven concert venues; Great America was…