The Sharks announced Friday they will begin to allow a limited amount of fans into SAP Center again later this month, starting with their April 26 game with the Arizona Coyotes.
Jonathan Becher, president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, said the organization’s plan is to allow somewhere between 500 and 1,000 fans for the April 26 game, with the goal of increasing capacity as the Sharks’ regular season continues.
Starting with the April 26 game, the Sharks will have seven regular season home games remaining, with the last game scheduled for May 10 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Sharks also announced they will host family members of the players and organizational staff for the April 24 game vs. the Minnesota Wild.
The games later this month will mark the first time fans will be allowed inside the downtown arena since March 8, 2020, when the Sharks and the NHL went against the wishes of Santa Clara County health officials and proceeded with a game in front of an announced crowd of 14,694 people.
The California Department of Public Health announced April 2 that it would allow indoor venues — including sports arenas — to host events with a limited amount of spectators. The three-California based NHL teams were among the last in the U.S. to begin to allow fans.
Per guidelines for indoor venues, announced earlier this month, a building’s spectator capacity may increase to 35 percent if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. SAP Center has a seating capacity for hockey of 17,562, or approximately 6,100 seats, but the Sharks said they want to start small.
The team said tickets for regular-season home games, beginning with the April 26 game, will first be sold to Sharks365 members, suiteholders and corporate partners April 19. The most tenured season ticket holders will be the first group allowed to buy tickets.
Becher said he hopes other single game tickets will become available to those who do not fall into those categories, adding that ticket prices have not increased.
“We’re definitely going to open up in stages,” Becher said.
Tickets, for the time being, will not be sold for San Jose Barracuda games this season, Becher said.
Becher said the organization is hoping to hold events like concerts in the arena this summer after the Sharks’ season ends as a ramp-up to hosting fans from the start of the 2021-22 season.
“We want to continue what we’ve done for 30 years, which is be the main economic driver for downtown San Jose,” Becher said.
The Sharks announced all attendees aged 24 months and older will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID test or proof of receiving a complete COVID-19 vaccination, with the final dose received at least two weeks prior to the day of the game.
The Sharks said they will provide a complimentary COVID-19 test to ticketed fans 48 to 72 hours prior to the game they plan to attend. Spectators are required to pre-register for testing and book an appointment, which are available beginning April 19, through Total Testing Solutions.
Also, the Sharks said they will offer complimentary PCR COVID-19 testing between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at SAP Center on non-Sharks home game days. Spectators must schedule an appointment with Total Testing Solutions and the test will be valid for entry for up to 72 hours prior to the game date they are attending.
Fans may also receive a rapid antigen COVID-19 test at SAP Center on the day of the game, without an appointment, for a fee of $50 per test.
Fans who have received a negative PCR COVID-19 test result from another care provider, issued less than 72 hours prior to game time, may bring those records with them to SAP Center in lieu of other testing options.
Fans who have been vaccinated must present valid documentation which shows the attendee’s name, type of vaccine, and the date of the last dose administered. An authorized vaccination card or documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider will be accepted.
Fans 24 months or older also required to wear a facial covering while at parking lots and security screening areas, as well as inside the arena, except when actively eating or drinking in an area that has been designated for dining.
Also, bags, clear bags, purses and clutches of any size or type will not be permitted inside the arena, the Sharks announced, with exceptions including bags carrying medical necessities or diaper bags accompanied by a child in diapers. The team said the bag policy will be reassessed following the conclusion of the season.
Becher acknowledged the no-bag policy is a “difficult” one but said it was consistent with other indoor venues around the state, adding that he hopes it doesn’t continue past this season.
“It’s unfortunately where we are with this health and safety world,” he said.
All tickets must be purchased in advance. Physical tickets to Sharks games are no longer being issued. Only the designated purchaser may use their tickets. Ticket forwarding will not be available for these games.
Tickets will be sold in pods of two or four seats, with six feet of physical distance between each pod.
Current California state guidelines do not permit food and beverage consumption in the seating bowl or in arena suites. Designated eating and drinking areas for all guests, configured to ensure a minimum of six feet of distance between tables, will be established in the arena’s north club and upper mezzanine sections located near Sections 107 and 109.
Becher said if thousands of people used the designated eating areas, “would that fill up the entire concourse area? How would that really work? We don’t want to figure that out in game one, we want to grow into that.”
All guests wishing to purchase food and beverage must do so through the Sharks+SAP Center app. All orders will be available for pick at designated locations.
Outside food and beverage items are not permitted inside SAP Center unless medically required.
All purchases will cashless. Credit and debit cards, along with mobile payments, will be accepted.
Reverse ATMs will be available throughout the venue. A limited number of merchandise locations will be open.
All guests are encouraged to pre-purchase parking pass(es) via ticketmaster.com prior to arrival at SAP Center. Guests who choose not to pre-purchase parking passes may be able to purchase a pass upon arrival based on availability. All parking transactions are mobile payment, credit card & debit card only.
