Upcoming San Jose Sharks dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Sharks in brief: Bay Area hockey since 1991
The San Jose Sharks play home games at SAP Center at San Jose, the downtown arena fans call the Shark Tank, with a regular season from late September to mid-April and playoffs from April into June. The team plays in the NHL's Western Conference, Pacific Division.
The Sharks entered the league as a 1991 expansion team. Their origin is unusual: the Gund brothers, who owned the Minnesota North Stars, sold their share of that club and received the San Jose franchise in return. The team spent its first two seasons at the Cow Palace, just south of San Francisco, before moving into its downtown San Jose arena in 1993.
The franchise has not won the Stanley Cup. Its high points are specific: a 1994 first-round upset of the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings as an eighth seed, one of the largest in playoff history; the 2008–09 Presidents' Trophy for the league's best regular-season record; and a run to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, lost to Pittsburgh in six games. Patrick Marleau, with 522 goals as a Shark, and Joe Thornton, with 804 assists, are the franchise's defining players, and both numbers, 12 and 19, are retired.
SAP Center: the Shark Tank and its levels
SAP Center opened on September 7, 1993, at 525 West Santa Clara Street. It opened as San Jose Arena and has also been Compaq Center (2001–2002) and HP Pavilion (2002–2013) before becoming SAP Center in 2013. Hockey capacity is 17,435 as of 2023, down slightly from 17,562 after part of the building was converted to a penthouse lounge. In August 2025 the Sharks agreed to an extension keeping the team at the arena until 2051, tied to a planned renovation of about 425 million dollars.
The seating bowl has two main levels with suites between and above them:
- The lower level (sections 101–128) rings the rink.
- The upper level (sections 201–228) sits above the suite ring.
- Suites sit at the concourse level and in a penthouse ring at the top of the building.
Section ranges come from seat-view guides that follow the arena's map; confirm a specific section on the seat map at checkout.
Where to sit in the Shark Tank
Center ice
Sideline sections at center ice in the lower level are the best hockey view in the building. Middle rows see the full sheet and look over the benches and penalty boxes, which run along the sides; the first few rows directly behind the benches see the players more than the play.
The attack-twice end
The home team attacks one end in the first and third periods, so seats behind that net see the Sharks shoot for two periods out of three. Seat maps rarely mark it, so check the team's seating chart or a seat-view guide before choosing end seats.
The glass and the corners
Glass seats deliver noise and speed. They do not deliver a clear view of the far end, and the curved corner glass distorts what you see. Rows a little higher in the corners give a diagonal view of both nets at a lower price than center ice.
The upper level
Center-ice 200-level sections are the value choice for watching the game develop. The end sections behind the nets are the least expensive and the hardest place to read plays at the far end.
Arrive for the entrance
Whatever you buy, be seated before puck drop. The lights go down, a 17-foot open shark mouth is lowered from the rafters, its eyes flash red, fog pours out, and the players skate onto the ice through it.
Schedule shape and the dates that sell out
NHL teams now play an 84-game regular season, 42 at home, after a four-game September preseason. The 2026–27 season runs from September 29, 2026, to April 10, 2027, with the playoffs from April into June. Demand in San Jose follows a few patterns:
- The Los Angeles Kings: the in-state rivalry, and the opponent in the 2015 Stadium Series, played before 70,205 fans at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
- Other California and Pacific Division opponents: the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights bring visiting fans on short flights or drives.
- Original Six visitors and star players: teams with large national followings fill the building with their own fans.
- Weekend and holiday dates: Saturday games and the winter holiday stretch draw families.
Weeknight games against Eastern Conference teams with smaller followings are usually the easiest seats to find, and resale prices for those games often soften as puck drop approaches.
Getting to SAP Center by train, light rail or car
Few NHL arenas are better served by rail. San Jose Diridon station sits across the street, with Caltrain from San Francisco and the Peninsula, the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) from Stockton and the Tri-Valley, and the Capitol Corridor from Sacramento and the East Bay. VTA light rail stops near Diridon and on San Fernando Street at Delmas Avenue.
If you drive, the main lot holds about 1,500 spaces, with entries from Santa Clara and Julian Streets; season ticket holders can buy prepaid parking. Free bike docking stations sit on Barack Obama Boulevard near the ticket office. Check the arena's transit page for current service before a weeknight game, since train schedules thin out late in the evening.
Bags, entry and payment at SAP Center
As of the arena's current bag policy, bags up to 5 by 9 by 2 inches move through entry fastest. Larger bags and backpacks up to 20 by 14 by 11 inches are allowed after X-ray screening in separate lanes, which take longer, and every bag must fit under your seat. The arena no longer offers bag check or lockers. Check the current bag policy before you go.
SAP Center describes itself as near-cashless, so bring a card. Re-entry is generally not permitted. For Sharks games, doors open 60 to 75 minutes before weekday games and 75 to 90 minutes before weekend and holiday games, depending on membership status. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Moments from three decades in the Tank
The arena hosted the 1997 NHL All-Star Game and Games 3, 4 and 6 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, the Sharks' only Final appearance. The team's mascot, S. J. Sharkie, first appeared in January 1992, emerging from a Zamboni during an intermission at the Cow Palace, and was named that April. The Sharks were a fixture in the postseason through the 2000s and early 2010s; when they missed in 2014–15, it was the first time in ten years. That stretch, and the Marleau and Thornton era, is what built the loud, loyal crowd that gave the building its nickname.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the San Jose Sharks play?
The Sharks play at SAP Center at San Jose, 525 West Santa Clara Street, across from San Jose Diridon station. Fans call it the Shark Tank.
Have the Sharks ever won the Stanley Cup?
No. Their deepest run was to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
Can I take the train to a Sharks game?
Yes. Caltrain, ACE, the Capitol Corridor and VTA light rail all serve San Jose Diridon station, across the street from the arena.
Are backpacks allowed at SAP Center?
As of the arena's current policy, bags and backpacks up to 20 by 14 by 11 inches are allowed after X-ray screening, and there is no bag check. Check the policy before your game.
When do doors open for Sharks games?
The arena lists 60 to 75 minutes before weekday games and 75 to 90 minutes before weekend and holiday games, depending on membership status.
Will the Sharks stay at SAP Center?
In August 2025 the team agreed to an extension keeping it at the arena until 2051, with planned upgrades to the building.