A general overall aerial view of Levi's Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Series of earthquakes rock Bay Area ahead of Super Bowl LX

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 2, 2026 3:14 PM ET

Super Bowl LX week at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, started on shaky ground.

The United States Geological Survey reported a 4.2-magnitude earthquake shook San Ramon, 32.5 miles north of Levi's Stadium, on Monday at 10:01 a.m. ET. An earthquake of that magnitude isn't strong enough to destroy a city, but it can cause shaking of indoor objects and be felt outside.

Reporters covering Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks were startled when they felt the ground move. On X, ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington, a Florida native, wrote, "I mean, I'm used to frozen iguanas. But earth-shaking? Unique."

That may not be the last time Darlington feels the earth shake this week. Citing the USGS map, KGO-TV in the San Francisco Bay Area reported that more than 30 earthquakes struck San Ramon on Monday morning, beginning with a 3.8 at 9:27 a.m. ET. No injuries have been reported.

Little baby earthquake here in Santa Clara?! That’s a first for me. I mean, I’m used to frozen iguanas. But earth shaking? Unique.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) February 2, 2026

Has an earthquake ever interrupted a sporting event?

Reports of the earthquakes will make many fans think of Game 3 of the 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics.

On Oct. 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake occurred at 8:04 p.m. ET, roughly 30 minutes before the game's first pitch. This cut the power at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. A police officer subsequently drove his vehicle onto the field, using his intercom to tell fans the game had been postponed. It was rescheduled 10 days later. The 6.9-magnitude quake devastated the surrounding area, killing 63 people.

The designers of Levi's Stadium considered earthquake risks before it opened in 2014. It includes special braces in its steel structures to withstand earthquakes. They've worked thus far.

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the Bay Area in August 2014 before a preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Chargers. Levi's Stadium was unimpacted, and the game was played as scheduled.

It's good to know that Levi's Stadium is built to endure a massive earthquake. The NFL still hopes there are none during Sunday's game, scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock).

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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