As the Super Bowl descends on Levi’s Stadium this weekend, the Bay Area’s tech elite are gearing up for more than just a football game. This year’s matchup between the Patriots and Seahawks is set to be a high-stakes affair where tech billionaires will be out in full force, turning the sporting event into a glittering display of Silicon Valley’s power and prestige.

The event promises an intriguing mix of tech leadership and sports entertainment. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Apple’s Tim Cook are expected to attend, continuing the trend of tech executives becoming fixtures at major sporting events. Venky Ganesan from Menlo Ventures humorously captured the essence of the gathering, describing it as “tech billionaires who got picked last in gym class paying $50,000 to pretend they’re friends with the guys who got picked first”.

Ticket prices reflect the event’s exclusivity, with an average cost of nearly $7,000. Interestingly, only a quarter of tickets are available to the general public, with the majority distributed among NFL teams. Washington State fans make up the largest group of ticket buyers, supporting the Seahawks in their quest to add to their single Super Bowl title.

The tech world’s competitive spirit extends beyond the stadium, with giants like Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon, and Meta preparing competing advertisements showcasing their AI capabilities. Most of these tech leaders have homes within an hour of the stadium, making their attendance particularly convenient.

This marks the third time the Bay Area has hosted the Super Bowl, with previous events in 1985 at Stanford Stadium and a decade ago at Levi’s Stadium. Each iteration has been a testament to the region’s growing prominence in both technology and sports entertainment.

As the game approaches, it’s clear that this isn’t just a sporting event – it’s a celebration of Silicon Valley’s unique culture, where tech innovation meets athletic competition in a spectacular display of regional pride and corporate power.