San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are Palo Alto's closest NHL team by a long way. The trip is also one of the easiest in Bay Area sports. Caltrain runs from Palo Alto to San Jose Diridon in about 21 minutes on an express. SAP Center, which locals call the Tank, is a five-minute walk from the platform. Hockey season runs through the rainy months, so a Sharks game is a good plan for a wet winter evening.

This guide covers the team: the 2026 to 2027 season as of November 2, theme nights, transit, tickets, families, where to watch and a short history. For the arena itself, see our page on SAP Center. The Sharks' minor league affiliate plays a few miles away. Our San Jose Barracuda guide covers that cheaper option.

Where the season stands

The NHL moved to an 84-game regular season in 2026 to 2027. Each Sharks opponent in the Pacific Division appears four times, Central Division teams three times and Eastern Conference teams twice. The Sharks opened at home on Thursday, October 1, against the Florida Panthers, with a free street festival outside the arena. A second home game against the Los Angeles Kings followed on October 3.

After a 5 to 1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators on October 31, the Sharks stood at 7 wins, 7 losses and 1 overtime loss, according to the NHL.com game recap. It has been a streaky start, with a comeback overtime win over Montreal and a shutout loss to Buffalo in the same two weeks. Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in 2024, is now the team's captain. Will Smith, Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson are part of the young core and rookie Ivar Stenberg has made an early impression.

Home dates to circle

The Sharks published their celebration and promotion games with the 2026 to 2027 schedule. These are the remaining highlights at SAP Center:

The longest homestand runs seven games from January 18 to February 15, split by the NHL All-Star break on February 5 and 6. January alone has 10 home games. Promotions can change, so check the Sharks' schedule before you buy.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain

Ride Caltrain south to San Jose Diridon. Caltrain's events page gives the short walk: north on Cahill Street, right on West Santa Clara Street and the arena is on your left. Weeknight games usually start around 7 p.m. and some weekend games start earlier, so check the time on your ticket.

• Caltrain flagged construction at Diridon from October 19 into December 2026. Leave a few extra minutes and follow track change signs.
• Southbound trains before the game are lighter than the northbound crowd after it. Waiting 20 minutes for the crowd to clear often means a seat.
• Pay with Clipper or a contactless card. Our Clipper and fares guide explains the options.

By car

SAP Center is about 18 miles from downtown Palo Alto by US 101 or Interstate 280 and State Route 87. Weeknight games meet the southbound commute, which our Palo Alto to San Jose guide covers in detail. The Sharks sell prepaid parking through their site, which saves hunting for a lot near the arena. Downtown San Jose has many places to eat before puck drop. See our guide to downtown San Jose restaurants.

Tickets and cheaper seats

Single game tickets are sold through the team's site, with Ticketmaster handling mobile delivery. Prices change with the opponent and the night. Games against Edmonton, Toronto, the Rangers and the Kings draw the most demand. Midweek games against non-rivals in November and March are often cheaper. Treat any listed price as a snapshot.

• Upper level corners in the 200 sections are the usual budget seats and still give a full view of the ice.
• SharkPaks were sold this season as Opening Night plus the 10 best weekend games in the same seats. Ask the ticket office what partial plans remain now that the season has started.
• Family Game Night and Youth Hockey Appreciation dates are aimed at families. Read the promotion page for any ticket packages before you buy.

You can compare Sharks tickets on Ticketmaster and then check the team's site for entry times and bag rules.

Tips for families

Hockey suits kids who like speed and noise. Periods are 20 minutes of game clock with two intermissions, so there are natural breaks for snacks and restrooms. S.J. Sharkie, the team mascot, works the crowd all night. The October 31 game was the team's 10th annual Los Tiburones celebration, a reminder that theme nights are a big part of the Sharks' calendar.

• Bring a sweatshirt. Rinkside seats are cold.
• Arrive early to watch warmups from the glass. Players sometimes toss pucks to kids.
• If your children want to skate afterward, see our ice skating guide for public sessions near Palo Alto.

A family of four can spend less at a Barracuda game, which uses a smaller arena and charges far less for seats and parking.

Where to watch

The Sharks list official watch parties for the season. Most are in San Jose at Casino M8trix's Zone 8 Bar and Grill, 1887 Matrix Boulevard, including November 28 against Colorado and December 19 against Vancouver. A January 16 party with the Sharks Foundation is planned downtown. Dates and venues are subject to change.

Closer to home, three bars say on their own sites that they show sports. The Pro at 541 Ramona Street posts a TV schedule. The Patio at 412 Emerson Street has 21 flat-screen TVs and opens daily at 11 a.m. St. Stephen's Green at 223 Castro Street in Mountain View calls itself an all-sports bar. Ask staff to put the Sharks on a screen on a busy football night.

A short team history

The NHL awarded San Jose a team in 1990 and the Sharks began play in the 1991 to 1992 season. Their first two seasons were at the Cow Palace in Daly City while the downtown arena was built. The San Jose Arena opened in 1993 and has carried several sponsor names since, SAP Center among them.

The Sharks became a steady playoff team in the late 1990s and 2000s with players such as Owen Nolan, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 and lost to Pittsburgh. After several lean seasons, the 2024 draft brought Celebrini and started the rebuild that fans now call the next wave.

Hockey in San Jose is growing beyond the Sharks. PWHL San Jose, a new team in the Professional Women's Hockey League, plays its first game at SAP Center on December 5, 2026, against the Minnesota Frost, according to an item on the Sharks' site. Olympic gold medalist Laila Edwards is on the roster.

Frequently asked questions