When I tell people that one of the NFL’s most modern stadiums is owned by a city government — and that the team and the city have spent years suing each other over it — they usually don’t believe me. But that’s exactly the story of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Fresh off hosting a Super Bowl, the stadium is now welcoming six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Here is the complete, accurate story of who really owns Levi’s Stadium.
What Is Levi’s Stadium?
Levi’s Stadium is the home of the San Francisco 49ers, located in Santa Clara, in the heart of Silicon Valley. It opened in 2014 at a cost of about $1.3 billion, seats roughly 68,500, and is known for its tech-forward design and solar panels. It has already hosted Super Bowl 50 and, in February 2026, Super Bowl LX. For the World Cup, FIFA refers to it as the “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.”
Who Owns Levi’s Stadium?
Levi’s Stadium is owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority — a public agency created by the City of Santa Clara. In 2010, Santa Clara voters approved the measure that established this tax-exempt authority to build and own the stadium, with the city leasing the land to it.
The 49ers do not own the building. Through a team entity known as “StadCo,” they hold a long-term lease to play their home games there, and historically managed non-NFL events through a separate entity. So once again, this is a publicly owned stadium operated by a private NFL team — but with a uniquely rocky relationship between the two sides.
Levi’s Stadium Ownership at a Glance
| Party | Role | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara Stadium Authority | Owner | Public agency created by the City of Santa Clara; owns the stadium |
| City of Santa Clara | Landowner | Leases the underlying land to the Stadium Authority |
| San Francisco 49ers (York family) | Tenant / Operator | Lease the stadium for NFL games via team entity “StadCo” |
| Levi Strauss & Co. | Naming-Rights Holder | Bought naming rights in 2013 — name only, no ownership |
Who Owns the San Francisco 49ers?
The 49ers are owned by the York family. Denise DeBartolo York and her husband John York control the franchise, and their son Jed York serves as CEO. The family inherited the team through the DeBartolo real-estate empire. For the full ownership breakdown, read my guide to who owns the San Francisco 49ers.
The City vs the 49ers: A Public-Ownership Feud
Here is what makes Levi’s Stadium unusual among World Cup hosts. The relationship between the City of Santa Clara and the 49ers has been openly contentious. The city council moved to strip the 49ers of control over non-NFL events like concerts, the team sued, and the dispute dragged through the courts before the two sides eventually reached a settlement.
It’s a vivid reminder that “public ownership” of a stadium isn’t just a technicality — it means elected officials and a billion-dollar franchise genuinely share, and sometimes fight over, the keys to the building.
The Naming Rights Story
The name comes from Levi Strauss & Co., the iconic San Francisco jeans company, which signed a naming-rights deal in 2013 reported at around $220 million over 20 years. It’s a perfect local fit — but, as always, naming rights buy the sign, not the stadium. During the World Cup, the Levi’s name comes down and the venue plays under its neutral FIFA label.
Levi’s Stadium at the FIFA World Cup 2026
The Bay Area is hosting six matches at the venue, branded the “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” for the tournament. Coming straight off Super Bowl LX, the stadium is in peak condition, though the summer sun on its famously hot east-side seats will be a talking point. Compare it with fellow California host SoFi Stadium and the rest of the field in my World Cup 2026 stadium ownership guide.
Could the Ownership Ever Change?
The Santa Clara Stadium Authority’s public ownership is locked in by the 2010 ballot measure and isn’t going anywhere. The open questions are about operations — who runs concerts, how revenue is split, and how smoothly the city and the 49ers can coexist. Expect the ownership to stay public and the negotiations to stay spicy.
The Bottom Line
My takeaway after years of tracking this one: the public Santa Clara Stadium Authority owns Levi’s Stadium, the York family’s 49ers are the tenant, and Levi Strauss just rents the name. It’s a publicly owned stadium with a privately owned headache — and in 2026, a proud World Cup host.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Levi’s Stadium?
The Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a public agency created by the City of Santa Clara, owns Levi’s Stadium. The San Francisco 49ers lease and operate it.
Q2. Do the 49ers own Levi’s Stadium?
No. The York family owns the 49ers and leases the stadium, but the public Stadium Authority holds ownership.
Q3. Why did Santa Clara and the 49ers go to court?
The city moved to take control of non-NFL events at the stadium, the 49ers sued, and the parties later reached a settlement.
Q4. What is Levi’s Stadium called during the World Cup?
It is referred to as the “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Q5. How many World Cup matches will the Bay Area host?
Six matches across the group and knockout stages.