Minority-Owned Bay Area Businesses Vying For Lucrative Super Bowl Contracts
OAKLAND (KCBS)— Hundreds of small business owners gathered in Oakland this week to try to win a piece of the Super Bowl 50 pie. They're hoping for a slice of the millions of dollars in contracts organizers of next year's game in Santa Clara will hand out.
The SB 50 Host Committee held a workshop and expo for businesses owned by minorities, women, LGBT folks and disabled veterans.
Committee spokeswoman Stephanie Martin said the NFL is emphasizing them as it hires local contractors to help put on the big game at Levi's Stadium in February 2016.
"It's hundreds of contracts and millions of dollars of contracts to work on Super Bowl," she said.
Everything from entertainers to bartenders to sign painters is up for grabs. It's a gig that Michael Williams of San Jose hopes to land for his two-person painting company.
"Oh my god, it would make my world, make my business grow. It would make everything right, so that's what I'm trying to do," he said.
Carmel Karrick, who owns Cal Safety in Fremont, hopes to snag a Super Bowl traffic control contract. She said that would be "lovely", especially if they could get a couple of free tickets.
Business owners have until April to apply for the contracts that will be awarded in June.
