Police defuse Uber protest outside Super Bowl

Up to 20 Uber drivers staged a brief protest Sunday outside Levi’s Stadium. Up to 20 Uber drivers staged a brief protest Sunday outside Levi’s Stadium. Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Police defuse Uber protest outside Super Bowl 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Up to 20 Uber drivers tried to block a busy intersection near Levi’s Stadium on Sunday in protest of company policies, but Santa Clara police quickly halted the demonstration, authorities said.

The protest happened at Great America Parkway and Tasman Drive shortly after 5:30 p.m., around halftime of the Super Bowl, said police Lt. Kurt Clarke. Police received reports that cars were slowing, and officers moved in to prevent a major traffic disruption, Clarke said.

The drivers obeyed police orders to disperse, and no arrests were made, Clarke said.

Uber is a Super Bowl sponsor and has exclusive rights among ride-sharing outfits to drive ticket-holders to and from the game. Postings on social media threatened to draw attention during the game to drivers’ grievances.

Recent price cuts by Uber to compete with rival Lyft have sparked protests by drivers, who are paid less as a result of lower rates. In San Francisco, prices have dropped 10 percent, while fares in the East Bay and South Bay have been reduced by 20 percent.

About 200 drivers honked horns and tried to slow traffic Monday outside Uber’s mid-Market headquarters.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander