SAN FRANCISCO—According to SF estimates, the city will be spending between $3.5 million and $4 million on Super Bowl 50, with the majority of costs being spent on security and public transportation.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors have been trying to estimate how much the event will cost the city. In a budget projection released on Thursday, January 7, public accounting estimated the city would spend at least $1.7 million and $1.5 million toward the San Francisco Police Department. The city also expects to spend funds for the San Francisco Fire Department, $50,000 for the Economic and Workforce Development Department, and $40,000 on Public Works. The Super Bowl festivities will be paid for by the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, which consists of an organized group of donors. San Francisco will be covering the additional costs necessary to ensure safety and mobility.
Critics of the City of San Francisco footing the bill for the Super Bowl have voiced concerns stating the figures for added security, public transit and sanitation costs should be paid for by the National Football League. Mayor Edward Lee’s office stand behind their confidence in focusing on the revenue that hosting the Super Bowl will bring in from having tourists visit from across the nation. In a projection released to the public by the mayor’s office, the city expects tens of thousands of tourists to visit San Francisco for Super Bowl 50 festivities.
San Francisco expects to see direct revenue from influx of tourists staying in hotels, contributing to businesses, eating at local restaurants, and shopping at stores, noted to Christine Falvey, spokeswoman for Mayor Lee.
Super Bowl 50 will be hosted in Santa Clara at the Levi’s Stadium, but San Francisco will be considered the hosting city and provide a week of events leading up to the game. Festivities include Super Bowl City, which is an interactive theme park that will be open to the public and feature family-friendly games, as well as musical performances.
