Countdown begins for Super Bowl as big economic, cultural boost expected in Bay Area

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) -- The countdown is officially on in Santa Clara.

As of Thursday, we are just 60 days away from Super Bowl 60 coming to the Bay Area.

"I think there's been a lot of conversation about the Bay Area being on the rise. This is going to have hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people focusing on the Bay in a very short period of time," said Zaileen Janmohamad.

Janmohamad is the president of the Bay Area Host Committee.

She says the Super Bowl, as well as next summer's World Cup will bring hundreds of millions of dollars into our region and fill as many as 400,000 hotel rooms.

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That boom in visitors will be felt far beyond just in Santa Clara.

Cities like Oakland, San Francisco, as well as many smaller Bay Area cities say they're also expecting an economic boost.

"As people are back in their offices working, we're seeing more and more business travel. The one pillar that still is out there that is yet to recover is that international piece for us," said Anna Marie Presutti, the president of the San Francisco Travel Association.

Presutti is hoping both events will bring not just domestic but also big-spending foreign tourists to the city.

Janmohamad says adding to the narrative of a Bay Area comeback is a big part of the host committee's goal.

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"I want people who come here, maybe for the first time, to say we loved it here. We're going to come back," she said.

Organizers say while they've already accomplished a lot over the past few months, there's still more to do.

But when the time comes, they assure the public, we'll be ready.

"Yes, we're on the rise but we're also born for this. This is exactly what we do, we take on big challenges and this is a chance for the community to come together and really show the world who we are," said Janmohamad.

The Super Bowl will take place on February 8.