SAN JOSE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PREACHES ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

This past April, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce took a delegation of its members, key community stakeholders, and city leaders to Los Angeles for its annual City Study Mission, an economic development program to help our leaders learn more about the public policy solutions, public-private partnerships, and economic strategies that have defined the growth in that city.

Included on the tour was a sports and entertainment panel hosted at L.A. Live. The panel’s comments demonstrated how cities can harness the power of sports and entertainment to create a thriving economy for a region, business, and community benefit.

On Wednesday, August 7, a panel that included those who went on the City Study Mission along with city and industry leaders, reconvened at the San Jose Chamber headquarters in downtown San Jose to share what they learned with other city officials. Included on the panel were Leah Toeniskoetter, President & CEO of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, Dan Rascher, Professor of Sports Economics and Finance at the University of San Francisco, Ruth Shikada of the Bay Area Host Committee, Jonathan Becher, President of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority, and Brian Corbett, Managing Director of Gensler San Jose.

Drawing comparisons between Los Angeles and San Jose, the panel discussed their biggest take aways and themes from the trip which included how, for the past several years, Los Angeles has made its sports teams and venues a top priority in helping to shape the identity of the city, how Los Angeles partners with its professional teams and venues to make shared visons become a reality for the benefit of everyone, and how the public-private partnership work cohesively to solve problems rather working in opposition of one another.

Additionally, as the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup prepare to come to the Bay Area in 2026, the discussion included thoughts on how San Jose can put its best foot forward to draw people to the South Bay, not just San Francisco.

“There’s sometimes a mental model that when a big event like the Super Bowl or World Cup comes to town, we sit back and wait to see what the NFL or FIFA are going to do for us,” said Becher. “I think the short answer is waiting for that is fool hardy. The NFL and FIFA will do the best they can, but at the end of the day, we control our own destiny. The first question we need to ask ourselves is ‘how do we show off San Jose to these visitors,’ many who have never been to San Jose before. This is our chance to think like a marketer and to do what we can to put our best foot forward so that they want to come back.”

SERIOUS DUMPLING TAKES CENTER STAGE AT SAP CENTER

​Local small business Serious Dumpling, nestled in both SAP Center and San Pedro Square, traces its roots back to Shanghai China. Serious’s owner, Phebe Shen journey started in Guangzhou China with formative years spent learning about the famous Shanghai dumplings and then coming to California.

Dreaming of sharing the allure of Chinese cuisine, particularly the beloved dumpling, with her new South Bay community, Shen tirelessly sought the perfect location. Eventually, San Pedro Square provided the ideal setting to introduce gourmet Chinese fare to downtown San Jose. Born amidst the challenges of the pandemic, Serious Dumpling flourished with the debut of its first location in 2022. Since then, its delectable dumplings have become a cornerstone of San Pedro Square's culinary offerings. Embraced by patrons, both historic recipes and innovative Asian fusion creations have garnered widespread acclaim.

In 2023, Serious Dumpling made a triumphant entrance into the SAP Center Test Kitchen, swiftly winning over concertgoers and hockey enthusiasts alike. Today, it's common for fans to savor dumplings at both locations in a single evening.

As the Sharks embark on a new chapter, we are thrilled to have the auspicious national dish, the Serious dumpling available for our fans. Phebe’s dedication to providing exceptional dining experiences downtown has earned admiration from the Sharks community. Be sure to experience Serious Dumpling at both locations: near section 128 on the main concourse of SAP Center and at 49 North San Pedro Street, just north of O’Flaherty’s Pub.