Super Bowl LX Transit Guide

Super Bowl LX TRANSIT GUIDE - with L in blue and X in magenta.
Super Bowl LX Transit Guide logo.

Table of Contents

Background and Disclaimer

Super Bowl LX will be played in Santa Clara, CA on Sunday, February 8 at 3:30pm USA Pacific time. This championship game of the National Football League will be played between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This is a rematch of the (in)famous Super Bowl XLIX, held in Glendale, AZ on February 1, 2015.

Football fans from both teams nationwide and worldwide are expected to attend the game. They are also expected to attend events in San Francisco and San Jose, the week before the game.

This guide will focus on pre-Super Bowl LX events being held in and around nearby San Jose, in addition to Game Day in Santa Clara. Recall our similar guide published for Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, CA in 2015. Here are highlights of Super Bowl 50. This guide will have some local public transit advisories as needed. Except where indicated, information on San Jose events comes from the Bay Area Host Committee. The main goal of this guide: help Super Bowl LX fans, workers, and attendees beat heavy traffic and expected exorbitant parking fees and ride-hailing service rates.

This transit guide was created without permission nor endorsement from the NFL, Bay Area Host Committee, or any public transit agency or event organizer mentioned. No compensation of any kind was offered nor accepted. This is being published as a public service to all football fans and guests attending Super Bowl LX and related events. We will not be held responsible for any harm or other event caused by the use of this guide.

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Keys To Super Bowl LX Events On Public Transit

Before an American football game starts, the announcer and analyst(s) go over what both teams have to do to win. For Super Bowl LX events in San Francisco and San Jose, several major public transit agencies will be involved in transporting fans to and from these events – helping them “win” by saving money and beating traffic:

Now, on to the game and related pre-game events.

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Super Bowl LX Events in San Francisco

From January 30-February 9, many Super Bowl LX-related events will be held throughout San Francisco. This includes but is not limited to:

Going to these events from the Peninsula or San Jose area? Ride Caltrain to the 4th/King terminus in San Francisco, using 4th/King in San Francisco as a transit reference point. Arriving from North San Jose, Milpitas, Oakland, or East Bay cities? Ride BART to either Powell St. or Montgomery St. stations on Market in San Francisco. Use either station as a reference point to Super Bowl events in San Francisco. Transit access to these events are covered on a separate page. As stated earlier, this guide will focus on Super Bowl LX events in San Jose and Santa Clara.

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Super Bowl LX Pre-Game Events in San Jose

Opening Night (Monday, Feb. 2)

Super Bowl Opening Night will be held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center at 150 W. San Carlos St. in downtown San Jose. This is the only chance for fans to see and hear from the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots players and staff in person before Super Bowl LX itself. Doors open at 4pm, with the first player sessions starting at 5pm.

Tickets are FREE but require registration with the NFL OnePass app. Due to limited capacity at the Convention Center, entry is not guaranteed.

Our transit guide to San Jose McEnery Convention Center shows how it’s steps away from Convention Center light rail station. Note that VTA’s 23 & 523 rapid bus lines will be detoured away from the Convention Center area until February 9, due to road closures for security reasons. For these buses, get off at Park and Almaden (coming from West San Jose or Cupertino) then walk 2 blocks south and east to Convention Center. Riding these buses from downtown San Jose or East San Jose? Get off at Paseo de San Antonio light rail station, then walk two blocks south and west to Convention Center. Light rail will still stop directly at Convention Center station. These buses and trains will help you beat traffic and expected overpriced parking rates at the nearby parking garages.

Plan to arrive at least one hour early to allow for expected heavy security at this event.

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Big Game Block Party (Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 4-5)

Hapa’s Brewing Company will host a FREE 2-day celebration of the Big Game at their Creekside brewpub on Wednesday and Thursday from noon-8pm. Raffles, food trucks, live art, a live podcast from the Fitz & Whit show, and more will be at the celebration. It’s all located at 59 Barack Obama Blvd. in San Jose. Near San Fernando light rail station, and only 2 blocks east of San Jose Diridon Station. Get more information and tickets here.

Our transit guide to San Jose Diridon Station shows you how Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, Amtrak, intercity buses, VTA Green line light rail, and several bus lines are a 10-minute walk away from the fun.

Note that the block party forces VTA to detour Gilroy-bound 68 and 568 Rapid bus service in the area. Bus routing to San Jose Diridon station will be unaffected as buses use a different route.

End Zone Experience Card Show (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 5-7)

Collect cards or other items from your favorite sports heroes? Want to meet former athletes? The End Zone Experience Card Show has it all for you. In addition to meet-and-greet with famous sports athletes, you can buy or trade sports cards or other memorabilia. Note that this event is not endorsed by the Bay Area Host Committee as an official Super Bowl LX event.

General admission to any of the 3 days is $50 per person. Get tickets here.

San Jose Civic Auditorium on W. San Carlos St. in downtown San Jose.

The same transit guide and tips for Super Bowl Opening night will also be useful for San Jose Civic Auditorium. The Auditorium is directly across the street from the Convention Center. Read more details here.

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Kehlani w/ Noodles / Dom Dolla (Friday & Saturday, Feb. 6 & 7)

Electronic Dance Music artists Kehlani (with guest Noodles) and Dom Dolla will perform at two separate block parties in front of San Jose City Hall. City Hall is at 250 E. Santa Clara St. in downtown San Jose. Kehlani’s show is Friday, February 6; Dom Dolla’s show is Saturday, February 7. Both of these SOLD OUT block parties will run from 3pm-10pm.

Our transit guide to downtown San Jose shows plenty of VTA buses stopping at or near San Jose City Hall. It’s also two blocks east of the Santa Clara light rail station. (Ride VTA Blue Line or Green Line light rail to Santa Clara station, then walk two blocks east to City Hall.

Because of the block parties; expect detours on bus lines like the 22, 23, 522 Rapid, and more. We will have more details on the bus detours as we receive them from VTA.

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“Members Only” Day Party in Mountain View (Saturday, Feb. 7)

In Mountain View, there is a “Members Only” Day Party that will go from 2pm-8pm. The Day Party features Trey Songz, FABOLOUS, DJ Esco, and more. All of this will be held at the Monte Carlo Nite Club at 228 Castro St. (between Villa and W. Dana St.) in downtown Mountain View. Get your tickets and bottle service information here.

The Nite Club is two blocks west of the Mountain View Caltrain station and VTA Orange Line light rail terminus. It’s also 15-minute west to El Camino Real and Castro, where VTA’s 22 and 522 Rapid bus lines take you to San Jose, or Palo Alto for further bus connections up the Peninsula.

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SUPER BOWL LX GAME DAY (Sunday, February 8)

Keys to Game Day

In addition to the transit agencies and fare policies mentioned above, there are a few more keys to consider for Super Bowl LX Game Day: signs, ambassadors, timing, and policies.

At key transit centers like Mountain View Caltrain Station, San Jose Diridon Station, and Milpitas BART station, look for temporary signage guiding you to connecting VTA light rail trains bound for Levi’s Stadium. Similar signage will be available to help guide you to fare machines and Clipper Card readers to help you pay your transit fare to and from the game.

Also, at these and some other stations, look for ambassadors from VTA that will be dressed in yellow vests, in addition to some peace officers. In addition to providing security, they will help you to the proper platforms and Clipper Card readers so that you are paid and safe for your trip. This in addition to providing security on the station platforms. Post-game, look for signage and ambassadors to guide you from the stadium to light rail platforms and other points to board buses or trains leaving the Levi’s Stadium area.

There is also timing. Formal ceremonies for the game begin at 3pm, with kickoff set to take place just after 3:30pm. Plan on being at Levi’s Stadium no later than 1pm. This gives you time and patience to go thru expected heavy security at Levi’s Stadium for the game. As with Super Bowl 50, to help ease expected overcrowding and motor vehicle gridlock before, during and after the game, please consider these two sentences of advice:

No Super Bowl LX game ticket? AVOID LEVI’S STADIUM!!!!!
Not working at Levi’s Stadium on Game Day? AVOID LEVI’S STADIUM!!!!!

Finally, there’s the Levi’s Stadium bag policy. Read up on what is allowed and not allowed at Levi’s Stadium before you go. Also, read up on Levi’s Stadium security policies. Read to know so that you will not be turned away, or worse, kicked out of Super Bowl LX. It’s not worth the risk of being cited, detained or even arrested by law enforcement officials.

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Viewing Parties

Can’t make it to the Big Game in person? Several viewing parties throughout the San Jose area are being held to let you and others enjoy Super Bowl LX. Game, famous TV commercials, halftime show, post-game trophy presentations, and all. Those that are accessible by VTA bus/light rail service or Caltrain are listed below.

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Pre-Game (7am-3:30pm)

Going to Sunday’s big game? VTA will start its pre-game service for Super Bowl LX at 7am. It will feature enhanced service on all 3 light rail lines. They will also feature enhanced service on the 55, 57 and 59 bus lines that typically end at Old Ironsides, near Levi’s Stadium. Service enhancements increase after 10am until the 3:30pm kickoff. Details are in the chart below, from VTA:

Typically ride the Orange Line but not going to Super Bowl LX? VTA will run shuttle buses from Old Ironsides to Baypointe station in both directions. Read up on the full shuttle bus schedule. Shuttle buses will start at Old Ironsides and serve Reamwood, Lick Mill, Champion, Tasman, and Baypointe stations. Look for signage at these stations pointing out the shuttle bus stops. Allow at least 30 minutes’ additional travel time if you are riding the shuttle buses.

For any safety or security issues you see, you can contact VTA via phone or text at (408)610-1440 if you during Super Bowl Sunday. Other ways from VTA you can report security incidents are here.

For Capitol Corridor trains from San Jose, Oakland, and points north/east to Sacramento and back, special reservation-only service is available. Details below from Capitol Corridor:

Post-game service is in the last section below.

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Post-Game (from game’s end for two hours)

Great America/Levi's Stadium platform, with the stadium in the background.

VTA will begin its post-game service when the game ends at the final “gun” – regulation or overtime. Trophy ceremonies post-game are not factored in. Service will continue for two (2) hours afterward.

Did you come from Caltrain rail in Mountain View for Peninsula/San Francisco trains, or via buses like the 55, 57, or 59? Leave from Gate A on the northwest end of the stadium for the Great America/Levi’s Stadium light rail platform and bus area for your trip home.

For those of you riding

  • Capitol Corridor trains from the East Bay, Oakland, and points north to Sacramento
  • VTA light rail to E. San Jose or Milpitas for BART rail service back to the East Bay
  • VTA light rail trains to downtown San Jose, South San Jose, or Winchester (Campbell)

Leave Levi’s Stadium from Gate F at the northeastern end of Levi’s Stadium. Walk east down Tasman Dr. for 1/4 mile until you reach stairs on the right, or down Stars & Stripes Drive, for the Capitol Corridor rail platform. Taking VTA light rail eastbound or southbound? Keep walking down Tasman to Lick Mill station. Look for signs and ambassadors to guide you to the proper light rail or Capitol Corridor platform for your return trip.

Worth noting:

  • Service on the Orange Line will run every 30 minutes until midnight, with extra trains available as needed. This will be split up until Monday, February 9; details on how the other half of the Orange Line will run are below.
  • Southbound-only Green Line service from Lick Mill to Winchester will operate post-game until 9pm. Regular Green Line service will terminate at Baypointe instead of Old Ironsides.
  • Eastbound-only Orange line service will run from Lick Mill to Alum Rock station. The other half of Orange line service will run from Baypointe to Alum Rock.

When the game ends and the trophies are awarded, there are some parties you can attend to celebrate victory – or forget a loss. More in the section below.

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After Parties

From February 8 at 9pm until February 9 at 2am, the “Biggest Super Bowl After Party Ever” takes place at at the Monte Carlo Nite Club at 228 Castro St. (between Villa and W. Dana St.) in downtown Mountain View. DJ ORMA, the official DJ of Super Bowl LX Halftime Show headliner Bad Bunny, headlines the party. Get tickets and information on bottle service here.

The Nite Club is two blocks west of the Mountain View Caltrain station and VTA Orange Line light rail terminus. It’s also 15-minute west to El Camino Real and Castro, where VTA’s 22 bus lines take you to San Jose, or Palo Alto for further bus connections up the Peninsula.

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For More Updates…

Follow @svtransitupdts on X (formerly known as Twitter) for the latest public transit information and tips for San Jose and the South Bay.

Have fun and stay safe riding public transit to and from Super Bowl LX and related activities.

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Credits

Thank you to all public transit agencies mentioned for providing public transit information. Also, a special “Thank You” goes out Gabby Chavez-Lopez, Executive Directory of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, for alerting me to the Bay Area Host Committee events. “Thank you” also goes out to Kyle S. Chak for providing additional public transit tips.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users