College Football Playoff To Intercept Big Business For San Jose

SAN JOSE, CA -- Aside from Alabama or Clemson, the biggest winners of the College Football Playoff National Championship slated for Monday may just be the lodging and restaurant business in the San Jose and Santa Clara areas.

It's the first time the grand finale of more than 40 bowl games will be played on the West Coast at Levi's Stadium at 5 p.m. So even though the college teams reside on the East Coast, Silicon Valley economy watchdogs expect the Crimson Tide and Tigers to bring out a roaring time for the region.

When the reigning champions of the Cotton and Orange bowls fly into town at the Mineta San Jose International Airport, the football gods will be greeted by the Santa Clara Lions, a youth football team.

But football is but a portion of an all-star entertainment lineup -- with bands, parties and festivities anticipated to spill out onto the streets of San Jose -- Ground Zero for the event.

The 100,000 square-foot Playoff Fan Central party zone has been erected with exhibits, concerts and other family-friendly activities. Thousands of college fans and their friends are expected to descend into downtown San Jose and the surrounding region to eat, drink, play and lay their heads somewhere.

Airbnb's spokesman Charlie Urbancic told Patch the online lodging shared-housing portal has booked 9,500 guests, adding up to $1.75 million for local hosts to rake in.

The San Francisco-based company deems the top destinations for Airbnb guests during this time include:
1. Mountain View
2. Santa Clara
3. Palo Alto
4. Sunnyvale
5. Downtown San Jose

Hotels appear to be doing well too. In the heart of San Jose, Hotel Valencia on Santana Row is completely booked with groups and individuals for the college football playoffs. A spokeswoman for the upscale hotelier right on the major strolling route also noted that business is expected to be booming at Oveja Negra, Terrace and Vbar -- three notable eateries at the hotel with first-class cocktails and exquisite small plates.

To get to and from there, Santana Row is also offering shuttle service from downtown.

"The goal is to recreate an ultimate homecoming game experience for family members of the teams," San Jose Economic Development spokeswoman Elisabeth Handler told Patch.

Even if the game itself isn't sold out, the mission involves getting the tourists who are in town to spend money at a time in the shoulder season when travelers usually nest up after the whirlwind of the holidays.

That's precisely what Scott's Seafood Manager David Buhagiar is gearing up for this weekend -- many sales of the Park Avenue restaurant's lobster roll for lunch.

"It's great. Business is definitely going to be increasing, and usually the first week of the year is quiet," he told Patch.

He's not alone. Bob Patane of Original Joe's, a mainstay on First Street in downtown San Jose, has planned for the same outcome.

"It should be a good thing," Patane said, adding all hands to work will be on deck.

The extravaganza was setup and designed to transform four sections of downtown San Jose. ESPN will set up its broadcast booth at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, with a disc jockey, merchandise booths and concessionaires out in free entertainment zone called "The Quad." "Fan Central" is set up at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and opens at noon Friday through the weekend. Tickets costs $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

The hot spot of activity will bring out vendors with beer, soda and car dealerships lining up to sell their wares. Giveaways and contests round out a long list of festivities. A 5-kilometer running race is scheduled for Sunday

The AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! concert series starts Friday. Acts from Leon Bridges to Jay Rock will perform on Saturday, and headliner band OneRepublic and Ellie Goulding will take the stage Sunday. The concerts are free to the public -- with fireworks going off as well.

Information about the events can be found at https://dothebay.com/free.

"There's a lot going on in downtown San Jose," Handler said, adding the city estimates up to 150,000 people to maneuver through the city. "It's a huge boon at a time of year that usually is slower."

Handler recalled how Pasadena saw the same tourist surge when it decided hosting the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl would place Pasadena on the map -- and it did.

With the flow of beverages, food lines and cash receipts comes traffic in around San Jose and Santa Clara. One may obtain more information about the game scene at www.levisstadium.com.

Getting around is the name of the game

The Santa Clara Police Department warns patrons in and out of the stadium to expect delays around Marie P. DeBartolo Way.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is preparing for increased traffic with information posted on its transit blog about its service.

To accommodate the weekend events happening in downtown San Jose the light rail station will be closed beginning noon on Friday through the start of light rail service on Monday. Light rail passengers are asked to catch southbound and northbound trains at the next closest station, which is at the convention center about two blocks away.

On game day, VTA will be providing extra transit service before and after the matchup to Levi’s Stadium.

The transit service is asking passengers and the general public to be patient "during this busy and exciting time for college football" in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA spokeswoman Holly Perez reminded. Passengers can purchase light rail tickets and bus fares in advance using EZfare.

For personalized trip planning or more information, one can visit the website or call 408-321-2300.

The city of San Jose's Department of Transportation has loading its road bulletins in the app Waze and released a list of street closures for planning purposes:

College Football Playoff Week through Jan. 8 at noon:

1. Market (southbound) – Southbound and northbound turn around loop closed at Plaza de Cesar Chavez
2. San Pedro St – Closed between Santa Clara Street and St. John Street

College Football Playoff Festivities on Jan. 4

1. Northbound Highway 87 Off Ramp to San Carlos Street/Auzerais Avenue – Closed at noon Friday to Monday
2. Viola Ave – Closed between Market Street and Almaden Avenue through Sunday at noon
3. Woz Way – Closed between Almaden Boulevard and San Carlos Street starting 3 p.m. to midnight Friday
4. Almaden Blvd – Closed between Park Avenue and Balbach Street/Woz Way starting 3 p.m. to midnight Friday

College Football Playoff on Jan. 5

1. Autumn Street – Closed between Santa Clara Street and St. John Street from 6 a.m. to midnight
2. Market Street– Closed between Santa Clara Street and Post Street from 6 a.m. to midnight
3. Market Street (Southbound) – Closed between San Carlos Street and Viola Avenue from 6 a.m. to midnight
4. San Carlos Street (Both Sides) – Closed between Market Street and Woz Way from 3 p.m. to midnight
5. Woz Way – Closed between Almaden Boulevard and San Carlos Street from 3 p.m. to midnight
6. Almaden Boulevard – Closed between Park Avenue and Balbach Street/Woz Way from 6 a.m. to midnight

College Football Playoff and Extra Yard For Teachers 5K Run on Jan. 6

1. Balbach Street – Closed between Almaden Boulevard and Market Street from 4 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
2. Market Street – Closed between San Salvador Street and William Street from 4 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
3. William Street – Closed between Market Street and 1st Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
4. 1st Street– Closed between William Street and San Salvador Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
5. San Salvador Street– Closed between 1st Street and 7th Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
6. 7th Street at (San Jose State University) – Closed between San Salvador Street and SJSU Campus from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
7. 7th Street – Closed between San Fernando Street and Julian Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
8. Julian Street – Closed between 7th Street and 2nd Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
9. 2nd Street – Closed between Julian Street and Bassett Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
10. Bassett Street – Closed between 2nd Street and Terraine Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
11. Terraine Street – Closed between Bassett Street and Julian Street from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
12. Julian Street – Closed between Terraine Street and San Pedro Street from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
13. San Pedro Street – Closed between Julian Street and St. John Street from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
14. St. John Street – Closed between San Pedro Street and Notre Dame Avenue from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
15. Notre Dame Avenue – Closed between St. John Street and Santa Clara Street from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
16. Almaden Boulevard (Northbound) – Closed between Santa Clara Street and Park Avenue from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
17. Park Avenue– Closed between Almaden Boulevard and Market Street from 4 a.m. to noon
18. Market Street (Southbound) – Closed between San Carlos Street and Viola Avenue from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
19. San Carlos Street (Both Sides) – Closed between Market Street and Woz Way from 3 p.m. to midnight
20. Woz Way – Closed between Almaden Boulevard and San Carlos Street from 3 p.m. to midnight
21. Almaden Boulevard – Closed between Park Avenue and Balbach Street/Woz Way from 3 p.m. to midnight

College Football Playoff on Jan. 7

1. Market Street (Both Sides) – Closed between San Carlos Street and San Fernando Street from 1 a.m. to midnight

--Image via Shutterstock