San José 26: A Year That Changed the Game by Unifying Sports, Technology & Culture

San José 26 was created as an initiative to ensure that San José didn’t simply host major sporting events in 2026, but used them to create a lasting impact for our community. Led by the San Jose Sports Authority in partnership with the City of San José and an incredible coalition of corporate, civic, sports and community partners, SJ26 brought together sports, technology and culture to maximize the opportunities surrounding Super Bowl LX, NCAA March Madness and the FIFA World Cup. 

John Poch has been involved with the San Jose Sports Authority (SJSA) since 1998, first as a volunteer, then as a board member, and now as Executive Director. Since taking the helm in 2016-17, John has helped position San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley as a world-class sports destination, using sports to drive economic development, visibility and civic pride. Under John’s leadership, SJSA has hosted more than 125 events, generated over 150,000 hotel room nights and delivered more than $300 million in economic impact to San Jose and the region. Major events have included the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, NHL All-Star Game, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials, FIFA Women’s World Cup and numerous NCAA championships.

In 2025, John helped launch SJ26, an ambitious citywide initiative built around an unprecedented year of major sporting events, including the NWSL Championship, Super Bowl LX Opening Night, NCAA Men’s Basketball Regionals, U.S. Table Tennis National Championships, CrossFit Games and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The initiative welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors and featured concerts, drone shows, fan festivals and FIFA World Cup Soccer Celebrations that attracted more than one million attendees.

SJSA also manages the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, Dwight Clark Legacy Series and REACH Youth Scholarship Program.

Previously, John spent 15 years at San Jose State University in leadership, fundraising and coaching roles and served as Executive Director of the After-School All-Stars, providing programs to thousands of underserved youth. John’s honors include inductions into the San Jose State Athletics and Pioneer High School Hall of Fames and receiving SJSU’s Presidential Medal for Distinguished Service. Away from the office, John enjoys spending time with his family, whether on the bocce court, in the vineyard or in the kitchen.