Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor knows it’s not just luck that her city will be the first to host a Super Bowl and the World Cup in the same year.
A decade ago, the Silicon Valley enclave of just 130,000 residents hosted its first major event at a two-year-old Levi’s Stadium. Super Bowl 50 brought more than 70,000 fans to Santa Clara, while 112 million viewers tuned in from their homes to watch the NFL’s crown jewel.
Now, the city will do it again—only this time it will be bigger, better, and happen twice.
Gillmor shared these thoughts before city officials raised the Super Bowl LX flag alongside the city’s own emblem at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
“That’s what happens when a community builds something extraordinary together,” the mayor said. “When the NFL and FIFA choose a host city, they’re looking at whether an entire city can flawlessly execute under the brightest global spotlight. Can you handle unprecedented crowds, keep everyone safe, and create an unforgettable experience? The answer for Santa Clara is yes.”
The flag raising marked the kickoff of Santa Clara’s yearlong campaign, “Where the Mission Meets the Moment,” a campaign the city hopes will rally pride among its residents as it prepares to host the Super Bowl on February 8 and six World Cup matches in June and July.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/01/22/santa-clara-raises-the-super-bowl-lx-flag-as-it-prepares-to-welcome-the-world-in-2026/
