REPORT TO STADIUM NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Final Stadium Neighborhood Relations Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report
Report
BACKGROUND
At the November 4, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution 25-9506 establishing the Stadium Neighborhood Relations Ad Hoc Subcommittee (Committee). The Committee comprises up to three Councilmembers and will serve from December 2025 to August 2026. The purpose of the committee was to provide a forum for communication with residents and businesses impacted by stadium events, provide updates on Major Events 2026, and evaluate and develop opportunities to enhance outreach/communication efforts.
The first meeting of the Committee was held on December 15, 2025, at the Northside Branch Library. The meeting served as an orientation and baseline briefing on current Levi’s® Stadium (Stadium) related concerns, outreach, and impacts related to Super Bowl LX.
The meeting included introductions from the committee members, staff, and community members attending. An overview of the Committee’s purpose, a survey on stadium operations, and a presentation from the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) on event operations at the stadium, with information on the street and trail closures associated with Super Bowl LX and the impacts on the stakeholders. The Committee also received feedback from the stakeholders in attendance; many of the attendees' concerns revolved around parking and the impacts from stadium event days to the neighborhoods.
At the second meeting on March 30, 2026, staff provided a recap of Super Bowl LX public safety efforts, traffic and trail closures, and an overview of the communications plan executed for Super Bowl LX. A high-level overview of the Stadium was provided to attendees, which included information about the relevant entities and structure associated with Stadium ownership, management, and operations.
In addition, staff presented the City’s existing Residential Permit Parking Program and shared the draft framework for a proposed Stadium Event Overlay Parking Program, which intends to manage neighborhood parking impacts during major events at Levi’s Stadium. Questions were provided to help guide the discussion comparing the two permit programs. Community feedback highlighted concerns stemming from past experiences in which residents were unable to secure the required 50% plus one approval to establish a Residential Permit Parking Program. Requests were made for the City to consider a more attainable process for implementing permit parking in neighborhoods that align with the proposed Stadium Event Overlay Parking Program. Staff shared that comprehensive community engagement efforts will be implemented to gather additional input from a broad cross-section of stakeholders.
The third meeting of the Committee, held on May 4, 2026, provided a high-level summary of the Stadium Authority Fiscal Year 2026/27 Adopted Budget, including a summary of major revenues and expenditures, key issues affecting Stadium Authority finance, and detailed line items for key activities.
The Committee last met on June 1, 2026, and received an overview of the anticipated impacts and operational considerations associated with the six FIFA World Cup matches held at Levi’s Stadium from Saturday, June 13 through Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
While Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup differed in duration, event classification, and operational impacts, both required extensive planning, public safety coordination, and community communication.
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Super Bowl LX |
FIFA World Cup 2026 |
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Duration: One-day event (February 8, 2026) with event impacts extending over approximately one month |
Duration: Six matches held over a 19-day period with impacts extending mostly on game days |
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Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR): 1 |
Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR): 2 |
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Road Closures & Traffic Impacts: Required extensive road, bicycle lane, sidewalk, and trail closures as well as enhanced security measures from January 5 through February 22, 2026, implemented through a three-phase closure plan that included detours for bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular traffic. Closures affected major thoroughfares, including Tasman Drive, Great America Parkway, and Stars and Stripes Drive. The public pathway from Gianera St. to Stars & Stripes Drive closure was required for security measures of the SEAR 1 event. |
Road Closures & Traffic Impacts: Required road and trail closures primarily on Match Days, with the longest closure on Marie P. DeBartolo Way from May 25-July 3, 2026; Match Day closures were like those used for regular stadium events, with enhanced closures and traffic controls to accommodate FIFA World Cup operations and increased event activity. |
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Public Safety: Comprehensive security planning and coordination with 50 local, regional, state, and federal public safety agencies |
Public Safety: Comprehensive security planning and coordination with 50 local, regional, state, and federal public safety agencies |
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Communications Plan: Implemented a comprehensive communications plan to provide timely information on road closures, event impacts, and transportation changes through physical signage, community and stakeholder outreach, and digital channels to all stakeholders. |
Communications Plan: Implemented a similar communications plan as Super Bowl LX. |
Building on the approach used for Super Bowl LX, staff implemented a comprehensive communications plan for the FIFA World Cup. Outreach targeted residents, commuters, commercial/businesses, transit users (ACE, Capital Corridor, VTA), San Thomas Aquino Trail users, and game-day attendees.
Staff also shared information regarding impacts unique to the FIFA World Cup, including fan marches being coordinated in partnership with Public Safety and the Bay Area Host Committee. Like Super Bowl LX, the City also implemented a Special Event Zone for the FIFA World Cup and provided the Committee with an overview of related operational considerations.
Staff also provided an update on ongoing efforts related to the Stadium event permit parking program. The City has been developing a community outreach plan that includes a dedicated webpage and online survey, among other outreach tools. Staff shared the framework for the program, including that, if community outreach demonstrates sufficient support for a Stadium event parking program that the City can feasibly implement, the next steps would include procuring the necessary equipment and services and proposing updates to the City Code, which would require City Council approval of an ordinance.
DISCUSSION
The Committee was established to serve as a forum to provide updates on the City’s Major Events 2026 and stadium events and to evaluate and develop opportunities to enhance community outreach and communication efforts related to the Major Events as well as regular/routine stadium events. Through its meetings and discussions, the Committee provided valuable input that helped identify two primary desired outcomes: establishing a pathway to address neighborhood parking challenges and establishing a pathway for effective stakeholder communication.
Pursuant to the adopted Resolution establishing the Committee, the Committee’s term concludes in August 2026, making the August meeting its final meeting. As the Committee concludes its work, the final meeting will focus on bringing together the information and feedback received throughout the Committee’s term and providing a clear outline of the ongoing efforts that have been created as a result of the community and Committee feedback.
During the August 31 meeting, staff will provide a summary of the City’s FIFA World Cup public safety efforts, closure impacts, and communications plan, as well as an overview of the noise-monitoring process for stadium events. Staff will also present the framework for two ongoing efforts:
• A proposed Stadium Event Permit Parking Program, and
• Enhancements to Stadium communications to impacted residents and businesses.
The framework will provide direction for staff’s continued efforts following the Committee’s conclusion and outline the anticipated steps, community engagement opportunities, and potential actions needed to advance the outcomes identified by the Committee.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only, and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Stadium Neighborhood Relations Ad Hoc Subcommittee agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Note and file this report and provide directions and recommendations that the Committee may bring forward to the City Council as they are identified.
Staff
Reviewed by: Paulina Morales, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager