NVIDIA GTC 2025 and St. Patrick's Day increase foot traffic in downtown San Jose

San Jose, California (KGO) – Top -technical talents from all over the world are in San Jose for the NVIDIA GTC Conference 2025.

The beginning of the conference with St. Patrick's Day is exactly what companies in the city center say that they are needed.

On Monday in downtown San Jose there were busy activities and the Color Green in downtown San Jose, not only because of the St. Patrick's Day, but also because of the GTC by AI Chipmacher Nvidia.

“It is St. Patrick's Day. Whether GTC is here or not, we would still be very busy. But add this crowd to St. Patrick's Day audience. It will rock down here,” David Mulvehill, partner of O'Flahery Irish Pub.

The conference started on Monday and the participants from all over the world say that they had already spent the weekend in the city center.

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“I really like San Jose. Yesterday we were in the city center, where there was a St. Patrick's Day (celebration) and it was really great,” said Hans Aaldering, a conference participant.

According to local business owners and providers, global visitors like this together with locals that come for the St. Patrick's Day in the city center are expected to bring a very welcome thrust.

“More and more people, more and more bodies, more money!” the seller said Steve Hansen.

This dynamic expected you to go out over Monday and the rest of the week.

“Twenty-five thousand people in our city center in the next few days,” said Alex Stettinski, Managing Director of San Jose Downtown Association.

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According to Stettinski, conventions and conferences such as GTC were invaluable for the post -pandemical recovery of the city.

“Last year was the first time that Nvidia came to the city center. This is the second year, we are so happy that they are coming back,” said Stettinski. “The influence is absolutely, absolutely incredible, it makes a big difference because they don't just stay in their congress area. They spread in the entire city center.”

The hope of business owners is that the life and energy that this conference brought along can continue all year round and the coming years.

“Conventions and conferences have a major impact on our business. Without them we would have difficulty survival,” said Mulvehill. “It is really important that we keep conventions to the city center and conferences. It is a lifeline for the restaurants and bars down here.”

Nvidia GTC runs until Friday.