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 The move stems from a budget and legislative analyst report last
week warning that taxpayers could be on the hook for nearly $5
million in expenses associated with securing public events leading
up to the game, unwelcome news to a city already facing a $100
million budget deficit.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's office previously estimated the cost to
the city at between $3.5 million and $4 million.
San Francisco-based attractions include concerts at Super Bowl City
on the scenic embarcadero and NFL Experience, an interactive
football-themed park at a downtown convention center.
John Avalos, a city superintendent and co-sponsor of the
legislation, accused Lee of "giving out corporate subsidies" by not
getting the NFL to foot more of the Super Bowl bill. He also accused
the mayor of cutting the deal in secret, saying Lee had only
recently released cost estimates.
But Christine Falvey, a spokeswoman for Lee, said the festivities
will bring millions in additional hotel, business and sales tax
revenues. The events have been planned for nearly two years and have
been scrutinized and cleared by multiple city agencies, she said.
San Francisco was promised a windfall when it hosted the America's
Cup sailing races in 2013 only to be stuck with an $11 million tab
when tourism lagged expectations, Avalos said.
While the legislation is a long-shot given the short timeline before
events kick off on Jan. 30, officials have suggested they will push
separate legislation that would increase transparency around similar
negotiations in the future.
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Santa Clara, the city outside San Francisco where the Feb. 7
championship game will actually be played, negotiated to have all
its expenses covered by the private Super Bowl 50 Host Committee.
Like past host cities, San Francisco is banking on increased tax
revenues to leave the city in the black. But economists are not so
sure that will pan out for San Francisco, a popular tourist
destination year-round.
"Frost belt cities do better because few people visit them in the
winter," said Roger Noll, a professor of economics at Stanford.
"In general, mega events usually cost more than they bring in for a
city government, but there is lots of variance," he said.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Tom Brown)
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