NFL expected to award 2026 Super Bowl to Levi's Stadium

The Sports Business Journal (a sister publication to the Business Times and Business Journal) reports that NFL owners will award the Super Bowl 2026 to Levi's Stadium during their meeting next week.

The stadium will host its second Super Bowl after Super Bowl 50 in 2016

In March, CEO Jed York said that his optimism was very high about hosting.

It's no secret that the 49ers are pursuing hosting another Super Bowl. The team announced earlier this year a possible eight-figure upgrade to its suite seating, which officials claimed would pave the way for a venue capable of hosting FIFA World Cup games and other events in 2026. This includes another Super Bowl.

The Forty Niners Stadium Management Co. LLC and the team, which manages stadium operation and books non NFL events under a city contract, plan to add nine additional "owners' suites", upgrade all existing "owners' suites" and 150 "non owners' suites", and improve community areas, where suite-goers are able to mingle prior to games, concerts, and other events.

Populous Holdings Inc., an architect from Kansas City, was finalizing the designs for the 49ers while Devcon Construction Inc. was in line to be the contractor.

According to reports, the 49ers plan to borrow $125m from the NFL stadium fund to upgrade premium seating and scoreboards in preparation for hosting a Super Bowl match and World Cup matches. The upgrades would not be funded by the public.

Chip Bergh of Levi Strauss & Co., whose company has secured a $220 million naming-rights deal for 20 years, stated immediately after Super Bowl that he was pleased with the outcome and encouraged the 49ers' pursuit of another National Football League Championship game.

There is less demand from the NFL to host Super Bowl LX because many NFL venues will be hosting FIFA World Cup games that summer. This includes Santa Clara's 68,500 seat stadium.

The Broncos beat the Panthers by 24-10 at Super Bowl 50. The stadium was opened in 2014.

Levi's Stadium cost $1.2 billion to build, thanks to an initiative on the 2010 ballot. It was leased by the 49ers for a 40-year initial lease, with four extensions of five years. It was opened in 2014.

See photos of the 2016 event below.