San Jose hospital workers scramble into hazmat suits. Others carry stretchers through disoriented crowds into bright yellow tents, where they prep a decontamination process for people critically injured by a chemical bomb. That was the scene for three hours Thursday at O’Connor Hospital, where health care workers ran a mass casualty drill in the rain....
Santa Clara looks to billboards to make money from sports events
Santa Clara residents can expect to see more advertisements in their neighborhoods as the city prepares to host major sports events next year. The Santa Clara City Council unanimously approved an advertising agreement with New York-based Outfront Media earlier this month, in preparation for the 2026 Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup at Levi’s Stadium. Outfront...
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara shows off its upgrades
Levi’s Stadium is getting a facelift ahead of hosting major sports events in 2026 — and local fans are reaping the benefits. The San Francisco 49ers unveiled $200 million in renovations to the stadium Thursday, including new 4k video boards. The renovations come as Silicon Valley prepares to host national and global audiences, with Super...
Silicon Valley begins countdown to next year’s World Cup
The countdown has begun for the FIFA World Cup coming to Silicon Valley next year. Representatives from the Bay Area Host Committee and Santa Clara celebrated the one-year countdown to the World Cup Wednesday with speeches and a youth soccer clinic led by the San Jose Earthquakes. Levi’s Stadium will host six games in 2026,...
Philbrick: Preparing local transit for the Super Bowl and World Cup
As California prepares to host several of the world’s most high-profile sporting events — including Super Bowl 60, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics — the pressure is on to move millions of visiting and local fans, athletes, coaches, officials and everyday commuters safely and efficiently. These mega-events promise economic...
Santa Clara isn’t spending taxpayer money on World Cup upgrades
The world’s largest sporting event — the FIFA World Cup — is coming to the United States in 2026, and Santa Clara is one of the only cities not breaking the bank to prepare, a data analysis by San José Spotlight shows. The games will be hosted across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Nearly all...
Santa Clara finalizes World Cup contracts
Santa Clara officials are paving the way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finalizing responsibilities. The City Council approved various agreements with the Bay Area Host Committee and the 49ers’ stadium management branch, ManCo, Tuesday in a 5-2 vote, with Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kelly Cox voting no. The agreement details operational and...
World Cup a win for downtown San Jose
The United States soccer team may have tied England at the World Cup’s Friday match, but the game was a win for San Jose regardless of the results. World Cup watch parties—organized by the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team, local businesses and the San Jose Downtown Association—have activated San Pedro Square in a way the...