By Vivek Sridharan
I’ve been reading many complaints lately about how San Francisco should be pissed off about the Super Bowl. The complaints go something like this: The game is in Santa Clara, yet San Francisco is the “host” city; Super Bowl week is going to result in the rerouting of busses and closed-off streets; a flood of tourists will jam up the city; we have bigger problems to deal with than wasting time on a football game — and the list goes on.
I get it. Having Super Bowl City here costs money. The NFL is a private corporation, and the city is spending money on hosting their big game. Yes, of course the city has problems, as any city does. Yes, there will be a lot of people here. Yes, downtown will be crowded, and it will mess up your commute.
To all that I say, so what? If we all wanted quiet environments with no crowds, big events, tourists or parties, wouldn’t we all just live somewhere in the suburbs?
The point of having the great privilege and opportunity to live in a world-class city is that awesome stuff happens here all the time. You may not care about football, but you can’t deny that most of America still tunes in to the Super Bowl. Rather than bitch and moan about all the “problems” of the Super Bowl, it might be worth putting aside our famous San Francisco pretentiousness and just enjoy ’Murica’s biggest party.
Yes, the actual game is in Santa Clara, but it may surprise you to know that the football game is more or less incidental to Super Bowl week. I was at the Super Bowl in New Orleans a mere four years ago (back when the 49ers weren’t a running punch line) and got to see the hype with my own eyes.
Only a few people will actually get a chance to check out the game in person. But the hoopla, the parties, the celebrity sightings, the charity events, the fancy dinners, the not-so-fancy drunken revelry and, yes, the disruption of the rote day-to-day lives that we live is all taking place in San Francisco. And that’s a good thing.
The Super Bowl isn’t the America’s Cup, an elitist boat race that was watched by few and generally economically disastrous for the city. Football is still very much an everyman’s sport, and there will be much more activity going on that’s available for everyone to enjoy. The NFL has packed the week with free concerts (including Alicia Keys and Chris Isaak), performances by local artists and community groups and, of course, the dozens of parties that will be happening all week. And if you actually are a football fan, you’ll see plenty of NFL celebrities walking around, mingling with the commoners. Perhaps you’ll catch Jerome Bettis at Tommy’s Joynt, see Joe Montana walking down Market Street, witness Charles Woodson being interviewed in Super Bowl City or happen to ride on a cable car with Phil Simms. Thousands of NFL players, both active and retired, will be coming to San Francisco. Given the sheer numbers, there’s literally no way for them to avoid mingling with the great unwashed masses (i.e., you and me), and most do so enthusiastically.
I’m not trying to minimize the very serious problems the city is facing vis-à-vis extreme rents, homelessness and the marginalization of longstanding San Francisco populations. However, to equate a weeklong Super Bowl party (yes, even one that costs $5 million) with ignoring serious problems in the city is both inaccurate and misses the point. It’s a great city’s job to attract events to bring in spending, increase tourism and plan things for the people who live there. Whatever your personal views of the NFL are, its popularity is undeniable.
San Franciscans, my advice is to just chill out and enjoy the Super Bowl for what it is: a big-ass party that you might as well embrace, and one that you’ll likely have to deal with only once. And hey, if we’re lucky, some drunken Super Bowl reveler may just puke all over Mayor Ed Lee’s suit.
Below is a list of some of the official Super Bowl events you could attend:
Super Bowl City
Super Bowl City is located in Justin Herman Plaza, just across from the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street. The “city” features two stages with live entertainment, NFL talking heads and interactive fan experiences (including the technology-themed “fan dome”).
Super Bowl City is open every day from now until the kickoff of the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 7. There are a number of free and affordable events for everyone to get in on the hoopla and an array of performances by local community groups and artists.
NFL Shop
If this Super Bowl is going to be anything like past Super Bowls, the NFL will set up a massive NFL Shop. It’s pretty cool to check out all the Super Bowl gear and the merchandise of every NFL team. If you wait until the day of the Super Bowl or the day after, the normally expensive swag gets heavily discounted.
Upcoming Super Bowl Official Events
Wednesday, February 3 — Matt Nathanson free concert (7:30 p.m.) at Super Bowl City
Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson takes the stage at Super Bowl City on Wednesday night to keep the hype train rolling, but at a slower, more acoustic pace.
Wednesday and Thursday, February 3 and 4: “A Concert of Champions,” featuring the San Francisco Symphony in conjunction with NFL Films at Davies Symphony Hall ($50–$200, VIP packages extra)
I used to love the NFL films; the pageantry and storytelling of it all lent an intimate, dramatic flair to a sport we’re used to watching from a distance. If you want to take things up a notch, you can see the excellent San Francisco Symphony play a live soundtrack to films showing great moments in NFL history. The sound you’ll hear is the NFL trying too hard.
Thursday, February 4, 7:30 pm — The Band Perry at Super Bowl City
Nashville country stars the Band Perry will take the stage and belt out some cheesy new country, a mandatory genre for all major sporting events nowadays.
Friday, February 5, 7:30 p.m. — One Republic free concert at Super Bowl City
One Republic is sort of music for people who don’t really like music. But if you like One Republic, this is probably going to be really amazing.
Saturday, February 6, 7:30 p.m. — Alicia Keys and Goapele at Super Bowl City
This is definitely the premier free event of Super Bowl week. Get there early. Alicia Keys needs no introduction. Goapele, a veteran R&B songstress hailing from Oakland, is a great performer in her own right.
Photo courtesy of Meaghan Clark.
