JULY 2024
SHARKS PRESIDENT JONATHAN BECHER REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SAP CENTER LEASE AGREEMENT DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY OF SAN JOSE
The past few weeks have been both busy and historic for the San Jose Sharks.
On Monday, June 17, at a press conference held at SAP Center, the team officially announced Ryan Warsofsky as the 11th coach in franchise history. On Friday, June 28, the Sharks selected former Jr. Sharks player and Hobey Baker award-winner Macklin Celibrini with the first overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. This was the first time in franchise history that the Sharks held the #1 overall pick. Thousands of fans attended a draft party at SAP Center to celebrate this monumental day in franchise history.
With the head coach announced and the draft now in the rear-view mirror, Sharks President Jonathan Becher will now shift his attention to other significant issues facing the organization including discussions with City of San Jose leadership about updating and extending the terms of the team’s lease agreement at SAP Center and keeping the Sharks in San Jose beyond 2040.
SAP Center will soon be the oldest facility among all 32 National Hockey League arenas and will be in need of critical infrastructure updates to ensure the arena will remain viable for the next generation of San Jose and Bay Area patrons.
Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News recently caught up with Becher at SAP Center to learn more about how discussions are progressing. To read the article, click here.
CITY OF SAN JOSE TURNED TEAL IN CELEBRATION OF THE SHARKS #1 OVERALL SELECTION
When the San Jose Sharks made the franchise’s first-ever #1 overall selection at the 2024 NHL Draft, the City of San Jose helped celebrate the milestone achievement with several activations and promotions throughout the City, highlighting the team’s importance to the downtown economy and civic pride.
Teal Lighting activations could be seen throughout the downtown area and at many of its most notable and picturesque locations including the San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Pedro Square Market, Post Street, Circle of Palms, Winchester Mystery House, San Jose City Hall, Sensing You Art Display at Highway 87, the Santana Row Plaza Fountain, and the Adobe World Headquarters Bridge. These lighting activations began on Sunday June 23 leading up to the draft and continued through Sunday, June 30, after the draft had concluded.
Additionally, Team San Jose digital screens and exterior marquees at the Convention Center and downtown theaters ran Sharks Draft Party messaging including the Sharks theme of “Keeping It Teal” throughout the week. The SJDA website included Sharks Draft Party graphics and links to the draft party events throughout downtown. Finally, the Rotunda at City Hall was lit up in Teal for this special occasion.
SHARKS FOUNDATIONPROVIDES $56,000 EMERGENCY AID DONATION TO SECOND HARVEST
The Sharks Foundation recently learned that Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is being forced to close its largest warehouse. According to a news report by Scott Budman of NBC Bay Area, the non-profit will have to leave its 90,000-square-foot distribution site on Brennan Street in San Jose because of a looming rent hike.
In response to this unfortunate news, the Sharks Foundation provided a $56,000 emergency aid donation to Second Harvest. This donation will provide more than 100,000 meals to the most vulnerable in Silicon Valley.
"There are so many people in our community who are struggling right now with inflation, the cost of living here and the cuts to CalFresh," said Diane Hayward, a spokesperson for Second Harvest. "For Second Harvest to respond at these levels for such an extended period of time, we must have the continued support of the community. The (Sharks) Foundation's donation is just incredible and uplifts all of us. It's truly such an example of neighbors helping neighbors and is coming in at a time when we really need it."
The Sharks Foundation has worked with Second Harvest on many successful projects for the benefit of our community; including providing support during the pandemic. Since 2000, the Sharks Foundation has provided $539,131 to Second Harvest.
The warehouse closure will make it harder logistically to store and distribute food at a time when one in every six people in the area now depend on the food bank for assistance. Second Harvest serves 500,000 people each month in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
SHARKS FOUNDATION SURPASSES $20 MILLION IN GIVING BY DONATING MORE THAN $900,000 TO BAY AREA ORGANIZATIONS IN 2023-24
The Sharks Foundation is pleased to announce that, thanks to the support of corporate partners, benefactors, volunteers, board members, and Sharks Sports & Entertainment staff members, it hasdonated more than $900,000 to Bay Area organizations and positively impacted the lives of nearly 285,000 people during the 2023-24 season. With these funds, the Sharks Foundation has now given more than $20 Million in cash grants to local, high-performing non-profit organizations through its annual Community Assist Grant Cycle program and season-long Giving Campaign.
“The Sharks Foundation is honored to have worked with and supported such pivotal non-profits this year, all of whom are relentlessly committed to meeting the growing needs of our community,” said Heather Hooper, Director, Social Impact for the Sharks Foundation.“Surpassing $20 million in giving is a testament to the commitment Sharks Sports & Entertainment has to the community and we look forward to continuing this important work.”
The Sharks Foundation’s annual report and recap video are now available online for viewing.
To learn more about the Sharks Foundation visit www.sharksfoundation.org. Those interested in making an online donation to the Sharks Foundation can do so by clicking HERE.