San Francisco Ready For Super Bowl Festivities, If Not The Game Itself
By Mark Schiff
San Francisco is one of America’s greatest cities and its mild winter weather makes it an ideal location to host Super Bowl 50. Even if San Francisco isn’t actually hosting Super Bowl 50.
The game itself will take place in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the 49ers new football palace which opened in 2014. However, Santa Clara is about 45 miles south of San Francisco proper and much closer to San Jose. But just because the 49ers skipped town to move south, doesn’t mean that the The City will be skipping out on the Super Bowl festivities.
Super Bowl City Now Open
Today marked the opening of Super Bowl City, a free-to-the-public fan village that will feature a variety of family-friendly exhibitions, live broadcasts from CBS Sports and the NFL Network, local fare that celebrates San Francisco’s culinary culture and a nightly series of free concerts.
Fireworks, Performances and More
Events at The City Stage get underway tonight, with a relighting of the Bay Bridge, a fireworks show and a performance from Bay Area star Chris Isaak. Other artists scheduled to perform throughout the week include Alicia Keys, The Band Perry and Colorado’s own OneRepublic. Super Bowl City is located in Justin Herman Plaza at Embarcadero and Market and will be open until Feb. 7.
More Super Bowl Events
Super Bowl City is but one of the myriad events the Super Bowl Host Committee is throwing over the course of the week. The Moscone Center will host the NFL Experience, which is being billed as “pro football’s interactive theme park.” On Feb. 3-4, the San Francisco Symphony and NFL Films are teaming up for “A Concert of Champs,” a live performance of NFL Films’ iconic music. And on Feb. 6, the Cow Palace will host Taste of the NFL, a culinary event that will pair chefs from all 32 NFL cities with former players to treat attendees to local delicacies.
Super Bowl Parties
Of course, there are any number of private Super Bowl parties to attend as well, provided you’re well-connected (or wealthy) enough to get your way in. Playboy always throws one of the biggest Super Bowl parties and the magazine will be unveiling their first non-nude issue at an event with EDM star Alesso at AT&T Park on Feb. 5. Rolling Stone will be throwing a bash at the Galleria featuring Avicii on Feb. 6 while A$AP Rocky and Lil Wayne will headline a Maxim party that same night on Treasure Island. And Nick Jonas is slated to make an appearance at the ESPN Party on Feb. 5 at the Festival Pavilion in Fort Mason.
Live Concerts
And finally, a series of major concerts are also scheduled to take place the week of the Super Bowl. Dave Matthews Band will be playing Pier 70 along the Embarcadero on Feb. 4. The following night, Pharrell Williams is also scheduled to perform at the same venue. And on Saturday night, San Francisco metal legends Metallica will headline a show at AT&T Park along with opener Cage the Elephant.
There will be plenty to do for Broncos fans heading out the Bay Area for the Super Bowl. Catch the big game live from Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 7.
Mark Schiff is a freelance writer and music journalist for AXS.com. In 2013, his coverage of the Seattle Seahawks ended in heartbreak when they defeated the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Now covering his beloved hometown team, his knowledge and passion for pro football has resulted in multiple fantasy football championships. Find him on Twitter at @mihilites.
