To the rest of the world, the Super Bowl is a much-awaited four quarters of football, but for the host city, the Super Bowl is an entire week where the whole region’s battery jumps to 110%. Before Super Bowl LX kicks off at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, the Bay will be in the midst of a full-blown festival, bringing with it an economic boom, fierce fandom and celebrations of art.

Levi’s Stadium and the Bay Area weren’t chosen to host the biggest American event by accident. For the NFL, the Bay is the perfect conglomerate of clear skies and pure infrastructure. Seahawks fan and senior Brad Engel agreed that the Super Bowl coming to the Bay solidifies this area as a worldwide hub of culture. “This Super Bowl feels like Levi’s is more established now, and it’s probably going to host Super Bowls for years to come,” he said. Engel is excited for the Super Bowl to come to the Bay. “You can see the Bay Area’s tech culture with the absolutely massive skyrocketing ticket prices,” Engel said. In San Francisco, the amped-up environment arrives long before the coin is flipped. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Moscone Center in San Francisco will be a well-oiled football factory packed with player interviews, a Pro Bowl flag football showdown and the NFL’s Super Bowl Experience; fans can test their 40-yard dash, come face to face with the Lombardi Trophy and observe all 59 Super Bowl rings. Neighboring the Moscone Center, the flourishing Yerba Buena Gardens will transform into a roaring entertainment center with live performances, world-class dishes and enough state-of-the-art technology to light up the San Francisco skyline.While the pre-Super Bowl fanatics create good vibes and fun times, the Super Bowl isn’t just about its atmosphere. With around 200,000 people visiting to enjoy the Super Bowl and its festivities, hosting the Super Bowl is also about money. When New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl last year, the state of Louisiana reported around a 1.25 billion dollar impact, including nights spent at hotels, food eaten at restaurants and weeks of buzz around host-city New Orleans. While focused on the concerts and nightlife that come with the Super Bowl, senior Richa Patnam is still appreciative of the economic impact that comes alongside these events. “I think the economic impact will be huge,” she said. Nearly 10,000 jobs were supported, and tens of millions of dollars were collected through taxes correlated to the Super Bowl — exactly the kind of surplus mayors dream about. In addition to the liquid benefits, Bad Bunny’s super bowl halftime show is much anticipated. His reggaeton and Latin trap will be blasting from Ubers, hotels and parties across the Bay, turning Santa Clara into an extension of Latin American culture. Up in the city, the pre-partying will kick in a week early with a plethora of performances from some Menlo favorites. Patnam is excited for the numerous concerts coming to the Bay. “There’s a lot of concerts and events coming to the area because of the Super Bowl. That’s bringing a lot of people and attention to the Bay Area,” Patnam said. “I feel like the concerts are for the city itself. They’re not really specific Super Bowl events; they’re just more for everyone,” she said. 

Benson Boone and Shaboozey have already given us our first concerts on Thursday in San Francisco. A flood of DJ’s will bring a house music takeover to the ports and warehouses of the Bay. If you are more for soulful and heartfelt tunes Luke Combs and Teddy Swims are the perfect pick. Continuing the dream lineup of artists, country legend Chris Stapleton will bring his earthy strums as well. The Killers will also continue the narrative of a diverse music scene. Countless other all-star artists like Post Malone and Calvin Harris will be throwing down parties across the peninsula, but to a 21 plus audience. “It definitely feels more like a Bay Area event,” Engel said, recognizing the variety of events throughout the Bay, not just in San Francisco or San Jose. Patnam was thrilled that some of her favorite artists were flocking to the Bay. “I think it’s going to be really chaotic and fun,” she said. 

When Levi’s Stadium hosted a Super Bowl 10 years ago, the Bay Area was placed on a global scale. Engel remembers the magnitude of the Super Bowl being introduced to Levi’s Stadium. “Levi’s hosting the Super Bowl 10 years ago felt like a huge deal because the stadium had just opened. It was almost like a ribbon cutting,” he said. A decade later, the NFL is officially back in a way that fully captures the Bay’s spirit. Engel also believes that the Super Bowl’s return will bring full attention to the Bay on a global scale. “This [Super Bowl] is cementing Levi’s Stadium and the Bay as a solid destination for the whole world,” he said.