San Francisco Named "Sports City of the Decade"

Sports Business Journal has named San Francisco “Sports City of the Decade.”

“People used to think of San Francisco and big bridges, cable cars and sourdough bread came to mind. Now they know the city as the place to be for world-class sporting events and teams,” said San Francisco Travel President and CEO Joe D’Alessandro.

The last ten years have been a parade of victories and championships for professional sports teams in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Golden State Warriors were NBA champions in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The 49ers returned to the Super Bowl in 2012. The San Jose Sharks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016.

Sports venues have also been in the spotlight. Sports Business Journal said, “The region is on the sports industry’s front stage, consistently hosting postseason competitions and major events.”

Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park) was the scene of the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Levi’s Stadium hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016, as well as the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship.

“The Giants are proud to have contributed to this great honor bestowed on San Francisco by the Sports Business Journal. The first half of this past decade will be one forever celebrated by Giants fans beginning in 2010 with the winning of our first-ever World Series championship in San Francisco followed by two more in 2012 and 2014,” said Giants President and CEO Larry Baer. “The culmination of those three championships marked by unforgettable parades down Market Street to City Hall created lifelong memories for generations of fans.”

The Golden State Warriors were also named “Franchise of the Decade.”In describing this honor, the publication said, “Over the last 10 years, the Warriors have demonstrated innovation, led the league and all professional sports in a variety of business categories and won three NBA Championships, in addition to building and opening Chase Center, the team’s new, state-of-the-art arena in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.”

“We are truly humbled to be recognized with this prestigious honor by the Sports Business Journal, especially when you consider the number of outstanding organizations across all sports,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. “The past decade has provided our fans, business partners and all constituents with many incredible memories, and it’s the hard work and dedication of every single player and employee that enabled us to achieve our goals and ultimately share in this organization-wide, strength in numbers recognition.”

The San Francisco 49ers are basking in the glow of a phenomenal football season. Their home field, the massive Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, is filled regularly with a variety of sporting events and concerts.

“The collective success of the Bay Area sports teams, as well as our ability to host extraordinary and diverse major events in state-of-the-art venues, ranks among the best in the world and it’s great to have that recognized by Sports Business Journal. As a region, we’ve delivered tremendous benefit to both the fans and local economy as the Bay Area has shined in the country’s sports spotlight over the last ten years – and looking ahead, we will continue to bring the best sports experience to our community, including our quest to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026,” said Patricia Ernstrom, San Francisco 49ers Vice President, Special Events and Bay Area Host Committee Executive Director.

San Francisco is primed for another memorable decade ahead as all eyes in the golf world will be focused on San Francisco, beginning this year. In May 2020, the 102nd PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park will make its maiden visit to San Francisco and the northern California Bay Area. That’s just the first of three major PGA of America championships coming to San Francisco over the next decade, with the 2028 PGA Championship and the world renowned 2032 Ryder Cup, both being conducted at the famed Olympic Club.

San Francisco Bay itself is now a professional sports arena. In 2013, with the help of Giants Enterprises, San Francisco Bay welcomed the 34th America’s Cup sailing races, the first time the action has ever been viewable from the shore. SailGP brought pulse-raising races back to the bay in 2019 and the worldwide, international event featuring seven countries will return for Season 2 on May 2-3, 2020.