"The appointment occurs as the city prepares for three significant sporting events in 2026: the Super Bowl, one of the rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and several games of the FIFA World Cup soccer competition. 2026 is a huge opportunity for San Jose, Kurtz said. All eyes are on this community with the upcoming Super Bowl celebration, March Madness, and the World Cup."
"Yet once the cheers and jeers for these big-time sporting events recede into memory, Kurtz is well aware that long-term challenges and opportunities will beckon from downtown San Jose's economic horizon. Longer term, we know that San Jose and other downtowns around the country are still seeing the extreme impact of the pandemic and the economic conditions afterwards, Kurtz said."
"Kurtz will also be in position to bring long-term stability to the CEO post at the association. In 2022, long-time San Jose Downtown Association CEO Scott Knies stepped down after three decades in the top role. Alex Stettinski took over that same year, but by April, Stettinski quit unexpectedly and was hurriedly replaced by board President Alex Gumby Marques on an interim basis."
Brian Kurtz was appointed chief executive officer of the San Jose Downtown Association, positioning him to shape downtown economic development. The appointment coincides with San Jose hosting major sporting events in 2026, including the Super Bowl, a round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and several FIFA World Cup games, which Kurtz described as a huge opportunity that attracts broad attention. Kurtz acknowledged continued pandemic-era and post-pandemic economic impacts on downtowns and signaled awareness of longer-term challenges and opportunities for downtown San Jose. The hire aims to restore long-term leadership stability following CEO turnover and interim management since 2022.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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