A stadium filled with spectators watches a formation of military planes flying overhead during a daytime event.
SSan Francisco

The case for a Super Bowl in San Francisco

  • February 9, 2026

Visitors couldn’t stop talking about how San Francisco blew them away.

“We were so surprised by what we had been told and expected versus when we walked through the streets and got here,” ESPN host Pat McAfee told his audience. 

2 days ago

Two football helmets, one Seahawks and one Patriots, face each other on gravel outside Levi's Stadium with a large "Super Bowl" sign in the background.

5 days ago

A basketball player in a green Milwaukee Bucks jersey numbered 34 is running on the court, with images of basketball shots and Warriors jerseys on the left.

Friday, Jan. 30

A football player in a white and red San Francisco 49ers uniform holds a football, preparing to throw while running on the field.

The main issue fans visiting the city dealt with is one locals know all too well. The distance between San Francisco and Levi’s Stadium is a problem, and it doesn’t have to be this way.

At least not forever. 

No one can go back 20 years (opens in new tab) and convince then-Mayor Gavin Newsom and the York family to work out a deal to keep the team inside city limits, but the 49ers don’t have to spend the next 20 years and beyond at Levi’s Stadium, either.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (opens in new tab) says modern professional sports facilities have an average life cycle “of just a few decades.” The 2026 season will be the 49ers’ 13th at Levi’s Stadium, and the franchise recently spent $200 million on upgrades to ensure it could host Super Bowl 60 and the World Cup. CEO Al Guido has done an outstanding job luring marquee events and concerts to Santa Clara, but his role would be easier in San Francisco. 

The challenge, of course, is finding the right space. The 49ers could explore Candlestick Point again and or even see if their original home, Kezar Stadium, could be converted into a viable venue. It’s possible there’s no place in San Francisco to erect a 70,000-seat stadium without spending a record sum, dealing with endless infrastructure questions, and receiving favors from elected officials.

Owners who spent more than $1 billion to build a venue within the last 15 years typically don’t look to pick up and move again, but hey, Mayor Daniel Lurie does have a stake in the team. 

For now, it’s good that fans in the South Bay have an easier commute to watch their favorite team play. Oaklanders lost their major franchises, and the wounds are still open. Bay FC already has its eyes on San Francisco, so San Jose will probably watch the NWSL franchise depart in the next five years. 

The 49ers don’t have to play in San Francisco. But for the second time in a decade, the NFL set up camp at Moscone Center and held activities all over the city. 

It’s anyone’s guess as to how long Jed York wants to keep the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, but it might be a while before the NFL awards the Bay Area another Super Bowl. After 50 and 60 were held in Santa Clara, let’s pencil in Super Bowl 80 at a brand-new venue in San Francisco.