REPORT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING COMMITTEE (AD HOC)
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Direction on the Citywide 2026 Economic Development & Community Engagement
Report
BACKGROUND
At the April 28, 2025, Economic Development and Marketing Committee Ad Hoc (EDMC) meeting, staff presented a strategic framework to the Committee for community activation and event support for 2026 events for SuperBowl and FIFA World Cup. Information was presented outlining the formation of a Major Events Task Force to support planning efforts by focusing on fundraising, strategic outreach, and community engagement initiatives related to Santa Clara's participation in the 2026 major events.
On June 2, 2025, Committee and stakeholders held a discussion on the Citywide 2026 Economic Development & Community Engagement Plan, including proposed priorities, community programming, and campaign theme options.
The following campaign theme options were presented for consideration.
* Santa Clara: Where the World Kicks off
* Santa Clara: Get Your Kicks in 2026
* Santa Clara 2026 The World Plays Here
On June 23, 2025, Committee members and stakeholders engaged in an Event Strategy Workshop that mapped city landmarks, assets and district boundaries to visualize potential event locations, layered with community demographics, cultures and interests. The exercise also included community survey results for a community ideas generator survey that launched on June 17, 2025. The survey was launched as a call to the community for input on possible events ideas.
Committee members had further discussion on the potential events and locations and were asked to share one word that captures the core value of Santa Clara. Staff shared that a community values survey would be launched to the broader community as mirroring the core value exercise. The goal is to capture the core value of what Santa Clara's community events should embody to build a narrative and slogan for 2026 event campaign.
Community Idea...
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