August 2025
SAN JOSE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES AGREEMENT BETWEEN SHARKS SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT AND THE CITY OF SAN JOSE
Pact Assures That SAP Center at San Jose Will Remain a Viable Civic Arena For Future Generations; Keeps the Sharks in San Jose Through 2051
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On Tues., Aug. 26, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously
(11-0) to approve a new lease extension between the City of San Jose and Sharks Sports & Entertainment, allowing the Sharks to remain in San Jose through the 2050-51 NHL season and ensuring that SAP Center remains a modern, world-class sports and entertainment facility for present and future residents throughout Silicon Valley and Northern California.
As part of the agreement, the City of San Jose and SSE will jointly invest more than a half billion dollars into the 32-year-old sports and entertainment venue, providing significant upgrades to the facility through a series of projects that began in the summer of 2025 and will continue over the next 5-7 years.
“The Sharks have been proud to play in San Jose for the last 30+ years and look forward to at least another 25 more,” said Jonathan Becher, President of Sharks Sports & Entertainment. “While we have consistently invested our own funds to maintain the city-owned SAP Center and intend to continue doing so, this partnership with the City of San Jose will bring much-needed renovations and improvements for arena guests, the teams, and performers.”
SAP Center is the oldest arena in the National Hockey League that has not undergone a major renovation. Despite Sharks owner Hasso Plattner investing more than $100M to maintain the City-owned arena over the past decade, the facility has significant deferred maintenance and infrastructure needs, including elevators, restrooms, plumbing, Wi-Fi network, sound system, electrical, fire protection system, and emergency generators.
Plattner also intends to continue investing in the facility which will fund upgrades to the main concourse, penthouse, and club levels, while changes at the arena level will update the sports and entertainment locker rooms providing a modernized experience for Sharks hockey, visiting entertainers and sports teams.
“As San Jose looks to the future, reinvesting in the SAP Center is about more than bricks and mortar—it’s about honoring a civic legacy, supporting the next generation of athletes and artists, and reaffirming our place as a destination for world-class entertainment,” said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. “By modernizing this beloved venue, we strengthen our community identity and ensure that the Arena continues to serve as a vibrant cultural anchor for decades to come.”
You can read more about this exciting development, as well as see additional renderings of potential SAP Center upgrades by clicking here.
SHARKS ANNOUNCE 2025-26 REGULAR SEASON AND PROMOTIONS SCHEDULE
​The Sharks have announced the team’s complete 2025-26 regular season schedule presented by Southwest Airlines as well as the team’s celebration games and promotions schedule.
The Sharks open the season at SAP Center at San Jose with a three-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thu. Oct. 9, followed by the Anaheim Ducks on Sat., Oct. 11, and the Carolina Hurricanes on Tue., Oct. 14. The 82-game regular season schedule also includes a 21-day break in February for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, marking the first time NHL players will represent their countries on the largest stage since the 2014 Winter Olympics.
This season, evening games will begin at 7 p.m. (moved up from 7:30 p.m. in past seasons). Similarly, to make games more accessible for a variety of audiences, the Sharks will host eight 1 p.m. day games and three 5 p.m. Sunday games.
For the full 2025-26 Sharks schedule, visit sharks.nhl.com/schedule. Broadcast information for all Sharks games will be announced later.
Additionally, the Sharks unveiled their promotion and celebration schedule for the 2025-26 season. Promo schedule highlights include Youth Hockey Appreciation Night (Nov. 28 vs. the Vancouver Canucks) and Bay Area Unite games with the San Jose Earthquakes (Jan. 3 vs the Tampa Bay Lightning) and San Francisco 49ers (Jan. 23 vs. the New York Rangers). For a full promotional and celebration game schedule visit sjsharks.com/tickets/promotions.
Individual tickets to all Sharks home games are on sale now and are available by visiting sjsharks.com/tickets. Fans should use their Tech CU Sharks Card to purchase tickets and receive exclusive benefits, discounts, and more.
SHARKS WAY – PEDESTRIAN AND FAN CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
The City of San Jose, in partnership with the San Jose Downtown Association, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, and the San Jose Sharks, is proud to announce the renaming of a key downtown corridor to Sharks Way, a celebration of community, connection, and creativity.
This initiative is part of the Stitching Together effort, which strengthens pedestrian-friendly connections between SAP Center, Little Italy, Guadalupe River Park, and San Pedro Square. As part of the upgrades, W. St. John’s from SAP Center to San Pedro Street will be re-named Sharks Way. Through Stitching Districts, this vibrant area will come alive with new public art, interactive activations, park upgrades, upgraded street lighting, and even pickleball courts, creating an engaging space for fans, parkgoers, and downtown visitors alike.
Stay tuned for exciting news about upcoming events and celebrations along Sharks Way!
SHARKS FOUNDATION’S KEVIN BROWN NAMED TO SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL’S “40 UNDER 40” LIST
Sharks Sports & Entertainment is proud to announce that Kevin Brown, Executive Director of the Sharks Foundation & Head of Community Impact, has been named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list for 2025.
This honor recognizes Kevin’s leadership and impact across the sports and nonprofit sectors along with his commitment to deepening community investment throughout the Bay Area. In his first year with the organization, Kevin has shaped a renewed chapter for the organization’s community impact by working alongside a dedicated team to strengthen both the Sharks Foundation and Community Relations as they build on their legacy and scale for future success.
Over the past year and under Kevin’s leadership, the Sharks Foundation has:
• Celebrated 30 Years of Impact and surpassed $21 million in total charitable giving.
• Directed nearly $1 million in reinvestment to support local nonprofits.
• Launched a three-year, $1 million Education Equity Initiative with partner SAP.
• Engaged 25,000+ students in classrooms across Northern California through the Reading is Cool literacy program.
• Reimagined the Sharks Foundation’s vision, mission, and brand identity.
To mark this special recognition, the Sharks Foundation has launched the Double Your Impact: 40 Under 40 Match. Now through August 31, every $40 gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar to support the Foundation’s work in youth education, wellness, and access to hockey across the Bay Area. This limited-time match is an opportunity for our community to join in turning this honor into even more opportunities for local youth to learn, grow, and thrive.
Click here to give today and DOUBLE your impact.
Congratulations, Kevin!