The San Jose Sharks partnership with the San Jose Chamber of Commerce strengthens the connection between business, community, and sports—leveraging one of the region’s most recognized brands to drive economic vitality. Through collaborative events, visibility, and cross-promotion, the partnership supports local businesses, enhances community engagement, and reinforces San Jose’s position as an emerging leader in sports and entertainment economy. Together, the Sharks and the Chamber help elevate downtown activation, regional pride, and long-term economic growth.
Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) is the parent company of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League, and oversees all areas of operation and management of the city-owned SAP Center at San Jose. Additionally, SSE oversees management and operation for three public Ice facilities located throughout the Bay Area: Sharks Ice at San Jose which includes the state-of-the-art Tech CU Arena, Sharks Ice at Fremont, and the Oakland Ice Center operated by Sharks Ice.
Community Impact
Since opening its doors in September 1993, SAP Center has proudly welcomed more than 50 million guests through its doors to more than 5000 events, generating nearly $10 billion of economic benefit to downtown San Jose by filling hotel rooms and downtown restaurants and businesses.
SSE continues to make a positive impact throughout San Jose and the greater Bay Area. During the 2023 – ’24 season alone, the Sharks, SAP Center, and Sharks Ice at San Jose attracted more than 2 million attendees to its venues, supporting 2,740 jobs and contributing nearly $300M million in economic impact to the City of San Jose.
Additionally, through the Sharks Foundation, the non-profit arm of the organization, SSE has positively impacted the lives of close to 10 million residents throughout Northern California, empowering youth through education and wellness programs while advancing equitable access to hockey for all.
Vision and Purpose
In August of 2025, SSE and the City of San Jose agreed to extend the San Jose Sharks lease at SAP Center, allowing the team 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 José 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 multiple years. Without obligation to do so, over the last decade, the Sharks and team owner Hasso Plattner have invested more than $100 million to upgrade and maintain the city-owned facility.
Additionally, SSE community-based programs will continue to support city beautification projects including the Sharks Community Connections Mural Project as well as the adoption of Arena Green West and the Guadalupe River. Since opening in September 1993, SAP Center has been the preeminent community gathering place, providing more than 30-years of sports and world-class entertainment for the City of San Jose and its residents and helping bolster the city’s claim as the “Silicon Valley’s Downtown.”
In addition to serving as the home to the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks, SAP Center has hosted the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, NHL All-Star Games in 1997 and 2019, world-class U.S Gymnastics events (2007, 2012, 2016, and 2023), U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1996, 2012, 2018 and 2023), the NCAA men’s basketball tournament seven times (scheduled again in 2026) and the women’s NCAA Women’s Final Four in 1999, ATP tennis tournaments from 1994- 2013, league championships with indoor football’s Bay Area Panthers and the San Jose SaberCats, and roller hockey’s San Jose Rhinos – to name only a few.