Oakland gears up to host official NFL Super Bowl watch party as city hopes for economic boost

Tuesday, January 13, 2026
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Oakland leaders held an event Monday to discuss the city's role in the upcoming Super Bowl.

The town will host the NFL's official watch party at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts on that Sunday, in addition to numerous other events leading up to the big game.

All of it is expected to provide a big economic boost, says Mayor Barbara Lee.

"In the region, they're projecting $350-600 million in terms of economic benefits throughout the entire region. We have our hotels, which will benefit, our restaurants," said Lee.

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Organizers say 1,400 tickets will be available for the watch party, and you'll have to go online to get yours.



"It's going to be on a first come, first serve basis, you'll have to register. It'll be free but there is a capacity restriction," said Zaileen Janmohamed of the Bay Area Host Committee.

But beyond the fun and the economic benefits, the Super Bowl events are also about creating a sense of community.

"Our mission is to unite the Bay Area through sport. And the only way you can do that is if you bring in all parts of the Bay, and Oakland and the East Bay are such an important part of the region," said Janmohamed.

While everyone can enjoy the upcoming festivities, some like youth football coach Chewy Orr, say they'll be especially beneficial for local children.

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"The kids are our future. So if they see professional athletes coming back and giving back to our city, they're going to more than likely want to do the same if they get in positions to do so," said Orr.



Mayor Lee says preparations have been underway for a long time to get the city ready for the spotlight.

And she's hoping after it's all done, more people will want to come back to Oakland.

"Our residents, first of all, and new people who have not visited Oakland, that they see this as a destination city. It's a world-class city and it is a place to visit," said Lee.



The Super Bowl will take place on February 8.

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