The SAP Center at San Jose is affectionately referred to as The Shark Tank. The SAP Center is home to the San Jose Sharks, San Jose’s star NHL team. The indoor arena was originally called the San Jose Arena, then the Compaq Center, then the HP Pavilion and now the SAP Center at San Jose. The original San Jose Arena opened to the public in 1993. The story of the SAP Center is actually kind of cool! In the 1980’s, local San Jose citizens felt the city needed its own indoor venue, so they started a movement called FAN, or “Fund Arena Now”. They lobbied, pursued contracts with the city, and sought sponsors and partners with the NHL and NBA. Finally the mayor of San Jose, Tom McEnery, met with FAN and decided to apportion local taxes for the arena. Construction took place in 1991. It was delayed somewhat after the San Jose Sharks wanted to upgrade to NHL standards to include luxury suites, a press box, and a larger seating capacity.

Finally by 1993, it was ready to open. It was called the San Jose Arena from its opening until 2001. Then Compaq secured the naming rights in a twelve-year contract. But the following year HP bought Compaq, hence the arena changing its name to the HP Pavilion. HP also contributed to several upgrades for the venue, including a new LED video display from Daktronics. Then in 2013 the German software company SAP, which was co-founded by the San Jose Sharks managing partner Hasso Plattner and is SAP’s chairman of the board, bought the naming rights in a five-year, $3.35 million/year agreement. The SAP Center opened at a cost of $162.5 million at that time. Today that translates to $265 million. The architects of the vast arena were Sink Combs Dethlefs and Prodis Associates. The venue seats a variety of capacities, including 19,190 for concerts, 18,549 for basketball and the NBA and NCAA, 18,300 for wrestling and the WWE, 17,652 for ice hockey and the NHL, and 11,386 for tennis and the ATP and USTA.

The SAP Center also offers Penthouse Lofts offer the small and intimate benefit of private suites, or fans can purchase two adjoining suites with their own connecting interior doors for larger groups. The Penthouse Loft seats 18-36 guests, they are fully furnished with HD Televisions, closets, and telephones, there is a full-service concierge staff and catering, wine, and beverages are all available to order. The Penthouse lofts are absolutely beautiful, elegant, and offer a different level of luxury to enjoy your SAP Center events including all games, concerts, special events, and more.

San Jose is a creative and beautiful city. In 2006, it held the record for most tickets to non-sporting events of any venue in the Western United States and held the fourth highest in the world, after Madison Square Garden, the Manchester Evening News Arena and the Air Canada Centre. The SAP Center events schedule also included lot of sporting events, including some notable events for the WWE, United States Figure Skating Championships, 47th NHL All-Star Game, NCAA Women’s Final Four, ArenaBowl XVII, USA Gymnastics Championships, and the UFC 139. As a world-record holding arena for it’s lineup, the 2015 SAP Center events schedule packed with great concert, sports and theatrical shows. In February, Aziz Ansari will be taking the stage as a part of his tour.

Here is a look at more SAP Center events! On Valentine’s Day, the will be hosting a Super Love Jam. Disney on Ice will be performing in February. Bob Seger will be taking the stage March 5 as a part of his tour. Chris Brown and Trey Songz are performing March 6 at the SAP Center of San Jose. Marvel Universe Live is scheduled toward the end of March, 2015 for three days straight. Some of the other upcoming SAP Center events are Maroon 5 will be performing March 31st at the SAP Center as a part of their world tour. The San Jose Sharks are playing their home games at the SAP Center for January through April. The Sabercats start their games at the SAP Center in April. Ariana Grande is performing April 12, 2015 at the SAP Center. Barry Manilow is performing April 18th on his very last tour ever with special guest Dave Koz. Neil Diamond is performing May 12, 2015 at the SAP Center of San Jose. U2 has been struggling in recent years to keep their concert dates due to injury and illness and this year one of the world’s greatest bands of all time will be taking the stage May 18 and 19 at the SAP Center of San Jose. Bette Midler will be performing May 26, 2015. And in July the Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Trials will be held at the SAP Center of San Jose. Now you can order your 2015 SAP Center tickets online today!

Barry’s Tickets offers tickets to all SAP Center events with no service fee’s or hidden charges on any SAP Center events including Sharks Tickets, Concerts and Theatrical SAP Center events.

Dani Kelly
Social Media Coordinator at Barry’s Tickets
Dani Kelly avid lover of Concerts, Sports and Theater events and works as the Social Media Coordinator at Barry’s Tickets www.barrystickets.com
Dani Kelly

SAP Center events are subject to change without notice.