Santa Clara Residents Take the Field at Levi's Stadium

This marks the first time Levi's Stadium has been opened to the public for a free, city-wide community day. The event is part of the city's "Where the Mission Meets the Moment" campaign, building excitement for Santa Clara's role as a host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LX. The relationship between Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers, who manage the stadium, has a complex history. The stadium's construction was approved by voters in 2010 through Measure J, which outlined a plan for a $937 million venue. This measure stipulated that the city would own the stadium and the 49ers would be responsible for construction and operational costs. However, the partnership has seen significant friction. A 2024 grand jury report, titled "Outplayed," concluded that the city's initial agreements with the 49ers were "heavily skewed in favor of the 49ers" and that the city has likely missed out on significant revenue from non-NFL events. This has been a point of contention for years, with the city council at one point voting to remove the team from its management role of the stadium. The city's current City Manager, Jovan Grogan, also serves as the Executive Director of the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, the public entity that owns Levi's Stadium. In May 2024, the Stadium Authority and the 49ers reached a settlement to resolve long-standing disputes over public safety costs and other operational expenses. The agreement is projected to bring an additional $20 million to Santa Clara's general fund over the following two years. This community event comes ahead of major international attention on Santa Clara. In addition to NFL games, Levi's Stadium will be a host venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The "Celebrate Santa Clara" day allows residents to engage with a key piece of city infrastructure that has been both a source of pride and controversy. The event itself features a range of activities, from youth football and soccer scrimmages to a "Community Field Day" with fitness zones and a dance party under the stadium lights. It also provides residents with access to city department booths and complimentary tours of the 49ers Museum. Tickets for the exclusive event were made available to Santa Clara residents via Ticketmaster with a special access code.