SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — Some of the world’s biggest sporting events are coming to the Bay Area.
That includes Super Bowl 60 and FIFA World Cup matches both happening at Levi’s Stadium.
Tuesday morning, the President and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee spoke at the San Jose Chamber of Commerce about the economic impacts these events will have.
It was part of a PG&E sponsored event held, with the San Jose Chamber of Commerce who hosted Zaileen Janmohamed, President & CEO of Bay Area Host Committee, for a discussion.
“San Jose is going to be the capital of sports next year,” said Leah Toeniskoetter, President and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee. “It starts in November with the National Women’s Soccer League Championship, and will culminate in the World Cup in July/June.”
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Toeniskoetter said the San Jose Chamber of Commerce has been hard at work with city leadership to make sure all of the revenue the big sporting events events generate doesn’t only end up in San Francisco and other cities.
“To ensure that we have activations during every single event. We will be putting out a media campaign. It is, ‘Fly here, Stay here, Play here'”, Toeniskoetter said. “And we’re really excited to be working with our partners to ensure that we are a very active, vibrant and fun place to be during all of those events.”
The President and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee also talked about its efforts already under way to make sure local businesses benefit. Including a small business activation playbook.
“It’s making sure small businesses can activate on their own, understanding what the rules are and how to kind of work around those rules,” Janmohamed said. “And then where we do events ourselves and making sure that we are bringing that community in or pushing people out into those spaces.”
Anastasia Volynsky hopes to showcase her customization jewelry business to the thousands of sport fans coming to the Bay Area next year. On Tuesday Volynsky was one of several small business owners who attended a workshop in San Jose hosted by Verizon Business. The focus was gearing up inventory for the FIFA World Cup matches.
“Draw a map, have your suppliers ready have backups ready as well just in case if anything goes wrong you have those people because there’s going to be so many other businesses probably using the same suppliers,” Volynsky said.
Volynsky started Lucky Goldie last year, a pop-up where you can design your own charm jewelry. She was one of the vendors that worked Kristin Juszczyk’s 49ers event at Levi’s Stadium two years ago – an event that combined sports and fashion. She hopes to do the same for the World Cup.
“Maybe have that activation where people can come in an make their own necklaces, bracelets, maybe even a little bag charm for their clear bags which I think would be so fun, just to accessorize it because sometimes those clear bags can be a little boring,” Volynsky said.
When it comes to Super Bowl 60 – 43 & Company is one of the many local vendors the NFL Source program has selected to contract with.
LikLing Khoo and her sister run A bite sized dessert business.
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“Very excited and nervous at the same time but we are following all the guidelines that they are giving us so checking off the list one by one,” Khoo said.
Their kitchen is in Milpitas. Originally from Malaysia, Khoo said some of their desserts have southeast Asian flavors.
“Like ube, matcha, pandan, coconut,” Khoo said.
Khoo said she’s grateful for the opportunity- the NFL Source program is guiding them through proposals and tasting sessions.
“I know we will be busy I just didn’t, not in my wildest dream would imagine that we would be part of the event,” Khoo said.
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For any small business owner hoping they can get in on the action next year – Khoo said to give it a shot
One thing also brought up at the discussion were President Donald Trump’s suggestions that he could move host cities for the World Cup.
Both the Chamber of Commerce and Bay Area Host Committee say it’s unlikely.
“These are events that take years to plan and to unwind that and move that to another city would be really difficult,” Janmohamed said.
“Unfortunately, the headlines kind of put a damper on the excitement around this big event. We’re going to be holding, the World Cup,” Toeniskoetter said. “We’re excited to welcome people from all over the world. It’s going to be a fantastic event.”
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