REPORT: Sharks & City Of San Jose Continue Discreet, Positive Discussions For Long-Term Future
According to the San Jose Spotlight, the San Jose Sharks and the city of San Jose continue to negotiate a long-term future as the home of the NHL club.
David Gonzales-USA TODAY Sports - REPORT: Sharks & City Of San Jose Continue Discreet, Positive Discussions For Long-Term FutureAccording to the San Jose Spotlight, the San Jose Sharks and the city of San Jose continue to negotiate a long-term future as the home of the NHL club.
"We continue to have positive and engaging conversations with city staff in our shared goal to ensure that SAP Center remains a viable city asset for many years to come," Sharks Sports & Entertainment President Jonathan Becher told San Jose Spotlight.
The Sharks and San Jose have a 10-year agreement that will soon become an annual agreement, and the Sharks are looking to adjust that.
"We do have what's called an arena management agreement for [SAP Center] until 2040. The terms of that agreement change quite substantially on July 1, 2025, in a way that's not very favorable for us to be very transparent," Becher told reporters after the Ryan Warsofsky introductory press conference on June 17. "We'd like to redo the agreement for this building before 2025. Frankly, I think the city would like to do that as well, but you'd have to ask them. If that goes the way I expect it to go, then we would extend the agreement probably through 2040."
Becher has repeatedly told reporters about the growth of Sharks hockey off the ice. For example, Becher said ticket sales increased massively after winning the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery.
Over 20,000 fans tuned in to watch the 2024 Sharks Prospect Scrimmage stream.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's words back up Becher's assertion that the city wants to rework the agreement.
"We're now going through the process of discussing with them and negotiating what the next 20 or 30 years will look like in San Jose. I'm very committed to keeping the Sharks here. Not just staying here, but growing and thriving here," Mahan told San Jose Spotlight. "I can't share a lot about that process because we're just (now) having that conversation, but I'm excited about what the future is going to look like."
Negotiations will likely continue to be discreet, but both sides, on the surface, seem like they will work together for a beneficial result to keep the Sharks in San Jose for a long time.
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