City of San Jose, CA
03/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/24/2026 10:10
NEWS RELEASE: San José Welcomes March Madness with Superfest and Fan Celebrations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Carolina Camarena, Director of Communications, City Manager's Office
408-535-7777; [email protected]
"I am excited to have the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight basketball games played in San José," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "This is our second big sporting event of 2026, and our ability to provide sports and entertainment to visitors and residents is helping to rejuvenate our downtown vibrancy. We are laying the foundation for a downtown sports and entertainment district and reaping economic benefits for our City and community."
Along with the tournament, as part of SJ26, the San Jose Sports Authority, in collaboration with the San Jose Downtown Association, San Pedro Square, and SAP, will host a series of free family-friendly activities from Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28:
With an array of free programming, the San Pedro Superfest offers visitors and San José residents the opportunity to feel like they are a part of the March Madness celebration.
The Hoop Bus is a 40-foot-long school bus with baskets on each side that create the entire activation space, measuring 80 feet long by 20 feet wide. The Hoop Bus will be parked in the middle of San Pedro Street just past the arches and across from Blanco Urban Venue.
Free Throw is a large-scale projection mapping and interactive activation. This innovative project brings together art, technology, and sports in a unique, immersive experience. Participants can enjoy vibrant 2D visuals inspired by iconic basketball moments and the city's spirit. Attendees will also have the chance to take three free throws using illuminated basketballs at a freestanding hoop - each successful shot activates dynamic visuals projected onto the SAP Center façade, creating a one-of-a-kind spectacle.
The San Jose Sports Authority will host a drone light show highlighting the basketball community in San José. The show will take place in Discovery Meadow in downtown San José.
For more information about the March Madness events, visit https://sj26.sanjose.org/march-madness.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States, Northern California's largest city, and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
CONTACT
Carolina Camarena, Director of Communications, City Manager's Office
408-535-7777; [email protected]
San José Welcomes March Madness with Superfest and Fan Celebrations
"I am excited to have the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight basketball games played in San José," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "This is our second big sporting event of 2026, and our ability to provide sports and entertainment to visitors and residents is helping to rejuvenate our downtown vibrancy. We are laying the foundation for a downtown sports and entertainment district and reaping economic benefits for our City and community."
Along with the tournament, as part of SJ26, the San Jose Sports Authority, in collaboration with the San Jose Downtown Association, San Pedro Square, and SAP, will host a series of free family-friendly activities from Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28:
- March 26-28 - Superfest at San Pedro Square
-
March 26 and 28, 7:30 - 10 p.m. - Activations of Free Throw by Artist G. Craig Hobbs
- March 26, 7:30 p.m. - "Tip-Off" remarks by Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, Councilmember Anthony Tordillos, City Manager Jennifer Maguire, San Jose State University (SJSU) President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, and Artist and SJSU Professor G. Craig Hobbs
- March 27 - The Hoop Bus and a free concert with DJs Diesel and Whethan
- March 27, 9:15 p.m. - Drone show at Discovery Meadow
With an array of free programming, the San Pedro Superfest offers visitors and San José residents the opportunity to feel like they are a part of the March Madness celebration.
The Hoop Bus is a 40-foot-long school bus with baskets on each side that create the entire activation space, measuring 80 feet long by 20 feet wide. The Hoop Bus will be parked in the middle of San Pedro Street just past the arches and across from Blanco Urban Venue.
Free Throw is a large-scale projection mapping and interactive activation. This innovative project brings together art, technology, and sports in a unique, immersive experience. Participants can enjoy vibrant 2D visuals inspired by iconic basketball moments and the city's spirit. Attendees will also have the chance to take three free throws using illuminated basketballs at a freestanding hoop - each successful shot activates dynamic visuals projected onto the SAP Center façade, creating a one-of-a-kind spectacle.
The San Jose Sports Authority will host a drone light show highlighting the basketball community in San José. The show will take place in Discovery Meadow in downtown San José.
For more information about the March Madness events, visit https://sj26.sanjose.org/march-madness.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States, Northern California's largest city, and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
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City of San Jose, CA published this content on March 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 24, 2026 at 16:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]