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The Super Bowl is expensive. The Bay Area is also expensive. Add it together, and it’s not a pretty sight for your bank account. With all that said, is it possible to attend Super Bowl 60 on a budget?
Sort of. Here’s the deal. Tickets are going to be the big-item purchase here. However, there is certainly room for you to save elsewhere. Maybe not regular-season prices, but savings are savings.
Getting to the Bay Area for Super Bowl 60
Let’s start with flights. SFO is the main airport, and prices at the time of this video for Super Bowl weekend are still manageable, but there are alternatives to consider, namely flying into Oakland and Sacramento. Maybe San Jose, but prices there for Super Bowl weekend seem to already be high.
Find cheap flights to the Bay Area during Super Bowl weekend
The key here is to factor in flights plus a rental car. We’ll get into if you need a rental car in a bit, but for now, let’s assume that’s your plan. It can actually be cheaper to rent a car at Sacramento International Airport than at SFO for that weekend.
And if you can save $70 on your rental car and find a flight that’s $50/60 cheaper round trip, it can be worth the 90-minute to two-hour drive from Sacramento to the Bay Area. When you are searching, keep that in mind.
Affordable rental car rates in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento
Where to stay for cheap during Super Bowl weekend?
Let’s talk about where to stay, because that affects your decision on renting a car. If you are trying to attend Super Bowl 60 on a budget, hotels around Levi’s Stadium and in San Jose are already laughably high. And everything in the Bay Area is pricier than normal.
Those in the market for something cheaper should head over to Dublin or Pleasanton. While a ways away from the city and Santa Clara, both are easily accessible through public transit, and hotels in this part of the Bay Area are going for less than half of what you’ll find elsewhere.
Here is a Four Points by Sheraton within walking distance of the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station that is three nights for $475 after taxes. Down the road, there are a Marriott and a Holiday Inn available for a fraction of the price of properties around Santa Clara.
Remember, prices may have changed by the time you’re reading this. But compare the cost to San Jose/Santa Clara, where a Quality Inn will run you close to $1,000 for three nights during Super Bowl weekend. The choice is yours.
The added benefit of staying around Pleasanton is that you don’t need a rental car. SFO and Oakland airports will only require you to change BART trains once. Now, it is 45 minutes to an hour to get to the city, but with traffic, everything evens out.
Pleasanton hotels available during Super Bowl weekend
If you do have a rental, parking at your hotel will either be free or significantly less than what you’d find elsewhere in the Bay Area. The difference between $120 for three nights of parking and $30 is notable.
Super Bowl 60 parking alternatives
Finally, let’s talk about getting to the Big Game. Do not take a car. VTA light rail is the way to go. The Great America stop drops you off right there at Levi’s Stadium. Yes, it gets a bit hectic with the post-game lines, but so much better than driving.
There are a bunch of park-and-ride lots, so if you want to drive and have a straight shot, you can. You can also use the Bart orange line and transfer to the VTA Light Rail at Milpitas Station. This will save you money and time. If I’m being frank, driving to Levi’s sucks even for a regular-season game. Click here to learn more.
Final thoughts on doing Super Bowl 60 on a budget
So, can you attend Super Bowl 60 on a budget? It depends on what your definition of the word budget is. There are certainly hacks that can reduce costs by hundreds of dollars. The key is researching and looking beyond the hordes of people descending on the region.
If you’re attending the game, have fun. Hopefully, it isn’t too expensive. And remember, you can still win on the road even if your team loses.
