Showing posts with label levi's stadium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label levi's stadium. Show all posts

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Levi's Stadium to host Six (!) World Cup matches in 2026

Levi's Stadium is going to have an amazing year in 2026. Not only are they hosting Super Bowl 60, but they will be hosting six World Cup games. Five will be group-stage matches and one will be a round of 32 match.

The first group stage match at Levi's is scheduled for June 13 and the round of 32 match will be held on July 1st.

Unfortunately, the US National Team will not start their journey at Levi's. They have two group-stage matches in SoFi Stadium in LA and another at Lumen Field in Seattle. Mexico and Canada will also play their initial group-stage games in their home countries. So that means all of the first five games will involve teams outside of North America. The benefit is the sheer amount of International tourism that will come to the San Jose metro for the game. 

2026 is shaping up to be a great year for sports fans in Silicon Valley!

Source: SVBJ



Thursday, January 11, 2024

The South Bay is looking for more action from Super Bowl 60 than it received from 50

San Jose had a lot to gain from Super Bowl 50. There were major events throughout Downtown San Jose, including the SAP Center, San Pedro Square, and Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Hotels saw a huge boost. Plus most of the costs and risks were covered by Santa Clara.

Now for Super Bowl 60 in 2026, the South Bay is looking to better capitalize on the event. Of the $240 million of estimated economic impact to the Bay Area during the last Bay Area Super Bowl, San Francisco got a whopping 57% of that amount, San Jose scored 12%, and Santa Clara only got a sliver at 7%.

Fortunately, the numbers might swing more in the South Bay's favor the next time around. Several San Jose leaders are looking at way to attract more of the attention (and revenue) related to Super Bowl 60. Ideas include undercutting SF for major hotel events, host simultaneous music festivals, food festivals, tech showcases, charity events, and so on. 

It may also help that San Francisco's brand has been in decline with high levels of crime, homelessness, and squalor on city streets. However, it's never good to benefit from someone else's suffering. If your read the source article, the president of the Bay Area Host Committee believe by working together the pie will grow larger verses trying to compete with one another. That seems like the ideal perspective for maximum returns. We also have to do a much better job of marketing the assets we already have, and there are many.

It's a fascinating read. What do you think San Jose and Santa Clara should do to keep more Super Bowl dollars near the stadium where the game is actually held?

Source: San Jose Spotlight



Tuesday, December 12, 2023

CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 - Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia to play at Levi’s Stadium next summer

Levi's Stadium is already going to be part of the World Cup in 2026, but there is another huge soccer event coming to Silicon Valley next year. Last week, the South American Football Confederation carried out the draw for the group stage of CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 which takes places in the US this year. Levi's Stadium is going to get two really big games.

On June 22nd, the national teams of Ecuador and Venezuela will face off. Then on July 2nd it will be Colombia versus the nine-time Copa America champions--Brazil. Brazil has also won the World Cup five times, more than any other country.

This will be a tremendous event that will bring a significant amount of tourism to the San Jose metro and is a great amenity for the many soccer fans all around the Bay Area. Tickets go on sale in January and you can learn more over here. The full press release is below.


SANTA CLARA, Calif. - On Thursday December 7, the South American Football Confederation carried out the draw for the Group Stage of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™️, which will take place from June 20 to July 14 next year in the United States. Based on the results of the draw, Levi’s® Stadium will host Ecuador vs. Venezuela on Saturday, June 22 and Brazil vs. Colombia on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Brazil is a nine-time champion of CONMEBOL Copa América. 

 

This competition promises to be an unforgettable spectacle for football lovers around the world, with 16 participating teams divided into four groups and 32 exciting matches. 

 

The world’s oldest national teams tournament returns to the United States eight years after the Centenario edition. A great tournament that also featured six CONCACAF teams, as guests, and which this time has confirmed the participation of the home team, Mexico, Panama and Jamaica, with two slots yet to be decided.  

 

These two places will be decided by the play-off matches between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica and Honduras on March 23, 2024. 

 

A total of 14 stadiums in the United States will host the exciting matches, four on the West Coast, five in the Central Region and five on the East Coast. The opening match will be played on June 20 in Atlanta. 

 

The Group Stage will be played from June 20 to July 2, the quarter-finals from July 4 to July 6, the semi-finals on July 9 and 10, the third-place match on July 13, and lastly, the Final on July 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium, with a capacity of 65,000 spectators. 

 

According to the dynamics of the competition, two groups will play in the west and central areas of the country, and two groups in the east and central areas. The competition will move eastwards, with the quarter-finals being played in the west and central regions, while the semi-final and final will take place in the east. 

 

In the history of champions of the CONMEBOL Copa América™️, Uruguay and Argentina, with 15 trophies each, dominate the ranking followed by Brazil with 9, Peru, Paraguay and Chile with 2 conquests, while Bolivia and Colombia have won once the tournament that began in 1916. 

 

Fans who want to experience the matches of the greatest edition of all time can register their interest at www.copaamerica.com. 

 

CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™️ 

The CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™️ will be played in the United States and includes 10 CONMEBOL teams and 6 CONCACAF guest teams. In this edition, this traditional tournament will be organized by both confederations. 

 

The 6 Concacaf teams qualify through the Concacaf Nations League 2023/24. The already known representative teams from North, Central America and the Caribbean are the United States, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama. The other two Concacaf participants will be confirmed after a Play-In between Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica vs Honduras. This Play-In will take place in March 2024. 

 

In the 48th edition of one of the continent’s most important competitions, this will be the second time in the tournament’s history that it will host 16 teams – having hosted the same number of teams in its 2016 edition, also held in the United States. Teams that have won 10 World Cup titles from FIFA™️ and the biggest stars in world football will take the field for 32 matches in this edition of the tournament in June and July 2024. 

 

Tickets for CONMEBOL Copa América USA 2024™️ will be made available starting in mid January. Signup at www.copaamerica.com to be part of an exclusive presale opportunity before the public on-sale. 

  

Rocking the Continent 

The CONMEBOL Copa América™️ has an incredible power, it can make everything move, emotions vibrate and hearts soar. 

 

It makes the flags fly, the nets tremble, the stands, and the stadiums shake. Its history makes the whole continent proud, and our football beats with a united force. 

 

This competition has the power to bring out the best version of who we are: football, history, joy and passion. 

 

#RockingtheContinent 

  

Facebook: /copaamerica 

Instagram: @copaamerica 

Twitter: @copaamerica 

Tik Tok: @copaamerica 

YouTube: /copaamerica 

 

About Levi's® Stadium 

Named Sports Facility of the Year for 2015 by Sports Business Journal, Levi's® Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers and serves as one of the world’s most technologically advanced and sustainable sports and entertainment venue. The $1.2 billion venue consists of 1.85 million square feet and 68,500 seats, including 175 luxury suites and 9,000 club seats, and was designed by HNTB and built by Turner/Devcon for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. It is a multi-purpose facility with flexibility that has allowed it to host a wide range of events – including international soccer, college football, ice hockey, motorsports, concerts and various civic events – since opening in 2014. The venue is also expandable for major events such as 2026 FIFA World Cup, WrestleMania 31, Super Bowl 50 and the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Levi's® Stadium is owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a public joint powers authority established to provide for development and operation of Levi's® Stadium to ensure the stadium serves the goals of the City of Santa Clara. For more information, go to LevisStadium.com. 

Monday, July 24, 2023

Taylor Swift is the mayor of what?

Santa Clara is temporary being renamed "Swiftie Clara" and Taylor will become the honorary mayor for two days. Shockingly, this is not an April Fool's joke. Also, KBAY 94.5 will become "Tay Bay" for three days and play nothing but Taylor Swift music. 

If you haven't gotten tickets yet, don't worry. Ticketmaster still has plenty for you starting at only $1,000 a person. Of course, those will be up in the nosebleeds. If you want to be close to the stage, expect to pay Super Bowl prices... $4k and up.

What does this have to do with San Jose? Unless you are a huge Taylor Swift fan and either have tickets or plan to listen to the concert from the streets (which thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people will actually do) you are going to want to avoid every freeway and major road near Levi's Stadium this Friday and Saturday. That includes 101, 237, Montague Expressway, and don't even think about getting anywhere near Tasman Drive.

The concert at Levi's Stadium will be the second time Taylor Swift performs at the venue, after her 1989 World Tour in 2015. She will be joined by two opening acts: HAIM and Gracie Adams, both rising stars in the pop scene. The show will start at 6:30 p.m., but fans will be getting there many, many hours beforehand. Some are even planning to wear adult diapers to not miss a single song, which I really wish was an exaggeration.

Source: literally every news site



Friday, January 16, 2015

WWE Hall of Fame Presale

Wrestlemania is taking place at Levi's Stadium this year, but most of the supporting events are actually taking place in Downtown San Jose. Through the end of today, you can snag some presale tickets for the WWE Hall of Fame at the SAP Center using the code TEAMSJ. To get your tickets just head over here.


Monday, November 3, 2014

Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak Review

Several weeks ago I had the chance to tour and dine at Bourbon Steak & Pub at the new Levi's Stadium, which is actually three completely different experiences. You have a high-end restaurant, a more casual Pub, and the Tailgate which is used for private parties and special events such as away game buffets. All of it is run by Michael Mina along with executive chef John Cahill (formerly at Cafe des Amis). This project is so important to Michael Mina (long-time 49ers fan) that he is planning to make this restaurant his home-base for at least the next year. If you dine at Bourbon Steak, I would say there is a good chance he will have a hand in preparing some of your food and might even come out and say hello and pose for a few photos with diners. For a celebrity chef with two-dozen restaurants, he is surprisingly friendly and approachable.


There are two different hostess desks for the restaurants. One for Tailgate and another that is shared between Bourbon Steak and Bourbon Pub. That was one of my few gripes as I really think the Steakhouse deserved it's own desk.

Walking around Bourbon Steak and Tailgate, there were lobster pots that could hold 200 lobsters each on game day, a wood burning grill, 49ers Cheerleaders, a DJ that spins every day (Clee, who also is the official DJ during 49ers games), and the most impressive thing of all... an epic two-story wood-fire rotisserie! At 13 feet tall, it is the largest indoor rotisserie in the world. It is so large that it can cook a whole Waygu cow and is used to roast whole hogs for Happy Hour.





I happened to be there during a 49ers away game and had a chance to watch them prep for the fanciest game-day buffet I have seen over at the Tailgate area. Imagine Skylander Ranch 100% Waygu beef short loin, fresh crab, and a premium taco bar. You can get beers and signature cocktails by the cooler and there are plenty of games like bocce ball, ping pong, etc. to entertain you during commercials. The cost for the buffet is $35 for a single pass or $60 for all-you-can-eat. Completely worth it based on the quality of the food if you ask me. Tailgate has a second floor for private dining which is where the 49ers come to party after games (there is a door that leads directly there from the locker room).







The bars in Bourbon Pub and Tailgate have a huge assortment of 30-40 craft beers in addition to popular favorites. Of course, there are also American Bourbons from small batch barrels that help give this place its name.


A couple more unique things and I'll move on to the food. This is the only Bourbon steak that has a merchandise booth and the only one with an element of gamification. There is a custom "Fantasy Flip" interactive app that is somewhat similar to Fantasy Football. You get game points to redeem for prizes that go all the way up to having a dinner out on the Levi's Stadium field.


Over at Bourbon Steak the first thing I noticed when walking in were the assortment of TVs everywhere, pretty uncommon for a high-end restaurant. They were slightly dimmed and there was no audio and are only on when there is a special game going on. When they are turned off, they turn into mirrors--so freakin cool!



Food

Instead of bread for the table, Bourbon Steak serves three different kinds of fries with a variety of exotic flavorings and sauces. There were ancho chili fries with pickled ketchup, shallot fries with honey mustard, and herbed fries with truffle aioli (my favorite).


Just because bread isn't served by default, doesn't mean it doesn't exist in the restaurant. On the contrary, YOU MUST ASK FOR THE BREAD. Think of it as a secret item, like asking for animal style fries at In & Out. The awesome Bourbon Streak bread is made in house each day with black truffle butter.


The first course I had was a Michael Mina signature dish: tuna tar-tar mixed with quail egg, pine nuts, spices, and toast. You get to see each individual component of the dish and then it is mixed for you table-side. If you are okay with raw fish, this item is a must.


Second was beet & goat cheese salad, perhaps the best I've had anywhere. Other people that I have recommended this dish to have said the same thing. Not only was it delicious, but it was very artfully put together.


Next was a play on a Bay Area classic, Dungeness crab chioppino. I think this was my least favorite, not because anything was wrong with it but because everything else was so exceptional.


The first main course was swordfish + white beans and artichoke hearts. The fish was cooked perfectly and paired brilliantly with the white beans and sauces.


Finally, we get to the highlight of the night. An American Waygu Ribcap with creamed corn & broccoli. This was easily on my top 3 list for the best steaks I have ever had. The meat practically melted in your mouth. Despite being gluttonously full from all the other courses, I couldn't spare even a bite of the marbled steak. At $80+, this cut doesn't come cheap but is well worth it for a special occasion.




Drinks

You can't go to a place called Bourbon Steak and not get some Bourbon-based drinks! If you can handle a stiff drink, I would highly recommend their Bourbon tasting. This is quite a unique drinking experience that features three different Bourbons. To enhance their flavors, each comes paired with items like citrus, cinnamon, or vanilla--which is then smoked and used to coat each glass before the Bourbon is poured. They also serve this at Bourbon Pub and is worth a trip to get this alone. Everything is done table-side and it was one of the highlights of the night for me.



My wife doesn't like strong drinks so she ordered a Bramble, which she loved. She's very tough to please when it comes to alcohol, so the bartenders nailed this one. I also ordered my favorite cocktail, an Old Fashioned. It was surprisingly smooth and just had the right amount of sweetness. The quality of the cocktails was right up there with mixology-type bars.


While we did not order wine with our food, they had an encyclopedia of vintages to choose from. Prices for a bottle start around $50 and go all the way up to the cost of a midsize sedan. No seriously, there is a wine on the list called Domaine de la Romanee - Corti that will run you $19,000. I'm guessing its being saved for the 49ers after a Superbowl win.

Dessert

We shared two different desserts before having to be rolled to our car. The first was an exceptional cheese course. I didn't write down the names of the cheeses but they all met my wife's approval, including a blue cheese which she typically does not like. There was a delicious croissant toast to accompany the cheeses.


The second was a Devil's food cake with malted vanilla ice cream. If you see this on the menu when you go, I would highly recommend it.


Service

I really have to thank the restaurant for the outstanding service we received. Each course was well-timed and everyone that we spoke too was friendly and patient with my barrage of questions. I would say this was on par with the Michelin Star restaurants I have been to in the Bay Area. Our waitress even ran out to the street when she noticed that I forgot my notebook on the table. This will be my new go-to restaurant for special events like Anniversaries!


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Centennial Gateway Renders!

Across the street from Levi's Stadium is going to be one of the most epic development projects in the history of the Bay Area. Below are a couple recent renders of Phase 1 of that project called Centennial Gateway. This will include 120,000 SQFT of retail, 600,000 SQFT of office, a boutique hotel, and a plaza. This could be ready as soon as 2016 (but likely later). The crazy thing is, this isn't even the big project that is being planned for the area.

Retail West is leading the retail strategy for the project and they are calling this "more contemporary, lively, and modern than anything the Bay Area has ever seen." Big words--will be very interesting to see how this turns out.

On a separate note, I had the chance to dine at the new Michael Mina restaurant in the stadium, Bourbon Steak, and it was phenomenal. I'll have a full review next week.