San Jose Approves Seven Entertainment Zones Ahead of Super Bowl, World Cup

San Jose is planning to establish at least seven new entertainment zones to revitalize its downtown area and capitalize on upcoming major events like Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup. These zones will simplify the process for hosting outdoor events and allow the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages within designated areas, aiming to boost local businesses and create a more vibrant community atmosphere. City officials and business leaders believe these zones will encourage collaboration among restaurants and bars to host engaging events, contributing to increased foot traffic and economic activity. The initiative builds on recent successes such as popular concerts and is supported by state legislation that facilitates activation of public spaces for entertainment. San Jose’s downtown has seen a notable recovery in foot traffic, attributed largely to arts and entertainment activities, despite challenges like high office vacancy rates. Meanwhile, San Francisco has also expanded its entertainment zones, following similar state laws, to stimulate nightlife and business revenue with five new zones added recently including the large Castro District zone.