Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate. Hosting it is a close second.
Like teams, cities have become dynasties. Miami and New Orleans, for example, share the NFL record for hosting the game — 11 times apiece.
This year, Super Bowl 60 will be played in Santa Clara, Calif., at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Santa Clara, 45 miles southeast of San Francisco, also hosted the game in 2016, and the privilege to do so is not cheap.
Securing the right to host has become increasingly competitive, with cities bidding against each other. (Miami and Houston were contenders for this year’s game.)
The NFL requires free hotel rooms. Free transportation. Free access to golf courses. And much more, all for free.
So what’s the payoff?
More than 100 million viewers watching the Super Bowl will be focused on your city and, presumably, many will come to visit and bring lots of money. Then there are the masses who will descend on Santa Clara the week of the game and, presumably, impact the local economy.
For instance, the economic impact of the 2024 Super Bowl on Las Vegas was $1 billion, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. To be fair, other economists have called such estimates a gross exaggeration.
But the pricey Super Bowl bids keep coming from the likes of Santa Clara. For Super Bowl hosts, it’s simply the cost of doing business.
Where is the 2026 Super Bowl? Big Game location
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
How to watch Super Bowl 2026: Time, TV channel, streaming
Super Bowl 60 will be broadcast nationwide on NBC. Fans can stream the game on Peacock, NFL+ or Fubo.
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT)
- Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, NFL+
Ad Meter: Keep up on Super Bowl commercial buzz
