It is home to the San Jose Sharks.
SAP Center, the Shark Tank, in brief
SAP Center at San Jose is the downtown home of the San Jose Sharks and the South Bay's main arena for concert tours, college basketball, gymnastics and fight cards. It seats 17,435 for hockey, 18,543 for basketball and up to 19,190 for concerts. For a Sharks game, the best seats are at center ice in the lower level, section 101 (behind the benches) or 115 (behind the penalty box), above row 10. For value, the matching 200-level sections, 201 and 215, show the whole rink at a lower cost.
Fans call it the Shark Tank. The building opened on September 7, 1993, as the San Jose Arena, became the Compaq Center at San Jose in 2001 and HP Pavilion in 2002 after HP bought Compaq. SAP, the German software company co-founded by Sharks owner Hasso Plattner, took over the naming rights in June 2013. Older tickets and directions may still say HP Pavilion; it is the same arena across from Diridon Station.
Two rings and a penthouse: how sections are numbered
The layout is a classic two-level bowl. Section ranges below come from RateYourSeats' section finder and TickPick's Sharks chart, which agree.
100 level: sections 101–128
The lower bowl wraps the ice. Section 101 is center ice on the bench side and 115 sits directly across, behind the penalty boxes. Numbers run in order around the bowl, so the end sections fall roughly halfway between, with 107–109 at one end. TickPick lists club seating in the sideline and near-corner sections 101–104, 112–118 and 126–128, with access to club amenities.
200 level: sections 201–228
The upper ring mirrors the lower one: 201 and 215 are center ice.
Penthouse and premium spaces
Above the 200 level sit the Penthouse Lofts and the Penthouse Lounge, a 10,000-square-foot space built in 2023 by converting seven suites and three rows of seats, which is why hockey capacity dropped from 17,562 to 17,435. Standing-room tickets are also sold for some games.
Best seats for a Sharks game
- Center ice, lower level: 101 and 115, with 102, 114, 116 and 128 close behind. In 101, the Sharks bench sits in front of seats 1–8 and the visitors' bench in front of seats 15–22, according to TickPick, so seat numbers matter if you want to be behind the home team.
- Row choice: sit above row 10 in the lower level to see plays develop over the glass. The exception is the front row on the glass in the end where the Sharks attack twice, which is an experience rather than a view.
- The attack-twice end: TickPick places it at sections 107–109. Those end seats see most of the home team's scoring chances and usually cost less than the sidelines.
- Best value: 201, 215 and the neighbors 202, 214, 216 and 228 in the 200 level.
Seats to think twice about
Low rows directly behind the benches and penalty boxes lose sight of the near boards behind players and glass. The upper corners of the 200 level are the longest look in the building. A reviewer quoted by TickPick says there is no bad seat in the building, so treat these as trade-offs rather than mistakes.
Do not miss the start of the game: the Sharks skate out through a giant shark head lowered from the rafters, with flashing red eyes and fog.
Concert and basketball seating
For end-stage concerts, RateYourSeats picks the center floor (Floor 2) and the sideline sections nearest the stage: 101, 102, 114, 115, 116 and 128 in the lower ring, and 201, 202 and 214–216 above. Those sidelines run the length of the floor, so seats closer to the stage end are nearer the performer but see the stage at more of an angle. Sections right beside or behind the stage are the ones to check carefully on the event map. Center-stage shows push capacity toward 19,190 and make any center sideline seat a strong choice.
For basketball, including NCAA tournament rounds and the occasional WNBA game, the court sits inside the rink footprint, so the lower sidelines at center court, 101 and 115, are again the prize. The Golden State Valkyries played their first playoff game here in September 2025 in front of 18,543 fans.
SAP Center parking, Caltrain and light rail
The arena counts more than 3,000 parking spaces within a third of a mile, about 1,500 of them on its own lots, which are entered from Santa Clara Street or Julian Street. Lots usually open two hours before the event, and as of 2026 the arena sells prepaid parking through SpotHero. Caltrain monthly and daily permits are not valid when the arena manages those lots.
Rail is the easiest way in. San Jose Diridon station is directly across the street, served by Caltrain, ACE and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor. VTA light rail stops near Diridon and at San Fernando and Delmas, and VTA buses serve Diridon. Cyclists can use the free BiKeep docks on Barack Obama Boulevard near the ticket office. Check the train schedule before a late event; see the arena's transit page for details.
Bag policy, doors and entry
As of the 2026–27 season, SAP Center recommends bags no larger than 5 by 9 by 2 inches for the fastest entry. Larger bags, up to 20 by 14 by 11 inches, are allowed if they fit under your seat, but they go through separate oversized-bag X-ray lanes. Anything bigger is refused, and the arena no longer offers bag check or lockers.
- Doors: one hour before most events. For weekday Sharks games, 60 minutes before (75 for Sharks 365 members); for Friday afternoon, weekend and holiday games, 75 minutes (90 for members).
- Re-entry: not allowed.
- Payment: near-cashless, with reverse ATMs near the North and South entrances.
- Children: age 2 and up need a ticket; strollers are checked for free.
Rules can change by tour; check the arena's bag policy page before you go.
History and what comes next
San Jose voters narrowly approved arena funding on June 7, 1988, and the NHL awarded the city its expansion Sharks in 1991, while construction was under way. The Sharks asked for upgrades to NHL standards, including suites and a press box, before the building opened in 1993 at a cost of about 162.5 million dollars. The Golden State Warriors played here for the 1996–97 season while their Oakland arena was renovated.
The arena hosted the 1997 NHL All-Star Game, the 1999 NCAA Women's Final Four and three NCAA men's West Regionals. Its biggest hockey moment came in 2016, when it staged Games 3, 4 and 6 of the Sharks' first Stanley Cup Final; Pittsburgh won the Cup on this ice. A new center-hung video board arrived in 2022. In August 2025, the Sharks extended their stay to 2051 with about 425 million dollars in planned upgrades, and plans announced in February 2026 add more lower-bowl seating and an overhaul of the suites and concourses, so expect construction changes in coming seasons.
Frequently asked questions
Is SAP Center the same as HP Pavilion?
Yes. The arena opened as San Jose Arena in 1993, was renamed Compaq Center in 2001 and HP Pavilion in 2002, and became SAP Center at San Jose in June 2013.
What is the capacity of SAP Center?
SAP Center seats 17,435 for hockey since a 2023 penthouse conversion, 18,543 for basketball and up to 19,190 for concerts.
Where should I park at SAP Center?
The arena has about 1,500 on-site spaces entered from Santa Clara or Julian Street, and more than 3,000 within a third of a mile. Prepaid parking is sold through SpotHero, and Caltrain stops across the street at Diridon.
What size bag can I bring into SAP Center?
As of 2026–27, bags up to 20 by 14 by 11 inches are allowed if they fit under the seat, but anything larger than 5 by 9 by 2 inches goes through slower X-ray lanes. There is no bag check.
Where is the Sharks bench at SAP Center?
According to TickPick, the Sharks bench is in front of section 101 (seats 1–8) and the edge of 128, with the visitors next to it. The penalty boxes face them in front of section 115.
Which end do the Sharks shoot at twice?
TickPick places the Sharks' attack-twice end at sections 107–109. Ends are set before each game, so confirm on game night.