SAP Center Pregame Guide
San Jose Sharks · San Jose, CA
SAP Center at 525 W Santa Clara Street has the most relaxed bag policy of any arena researched here: it recommends 5 by 9 by 2 inches to speed entry but will accommodate bags up to 20 by 14 by 11, which no other venue on this site comes close to. On-site parking is $15 a car, with Sharks season ticket holders able to prepay for a guaranteed space in the main ABC Lot. Doors split by day and membership: 75 minutes before a weekday game for Sharks 365 members and 60 for everyone else, rising to 90 and 75 for Friday afternoon, weekend and holiday games.
Tips & Fan Reports
A smaller 5 by 9 by 2 bag still gets you through faster, which is the arena's own advice.
This is the most bag-friendly arena on the site by a wide margin — up to 20 by 14 by 11 inches is accommodated, where most arenas cap at a clutch.
Doors open 15 minutes earlier for Sharks 365 members, and everything shifts 15 minutes earlier again at weekends.
On-site parking is $15, among the cheapest anywhere in these four leagues.
Where to Go Before the Game
The ABC Lot
The main on-site lot, where Sharks season ticket holders can prepay before the season starts for a guaranteed space.
Known for Main onsite lot · Prepaid for season members · Guaranteed space
The on-site lots at $15
The arena's own parking lots, at $15 per car — cheap by the standards of the venues on this site, with further lots nearby at varying prices and distances.
Known for $15 per car · On site · No pass needed
525 W Santa Clara Street
The arena's address on the edge of downtown San Jose, with further parking at varying prices and distances around it.
Known for Downtown San Jose · Additional lots nearby
Rules to Know
What SAP Center allows, and what it does not.
- Fans are recommended to bring bags 5" x 9" x 2" or smaller to expedite entry, but the arena accommodates bags up to 20" x 14" x 11".
- On-site parking is $15 per car. Additional parking is available nearby at varying prices and distances.
- San Jose Sharks season ticket holders may purchase prepaid parking before the season starts, guaranteeing a space in the main onsite ABC Lot.
- For weekday Sharks games doors open 75 minutes before the start for Sharks 365 members and 60 minutes before for non-members.
- For Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday and holiday games doors open 90 minutes before for Sharks 365 members and 75 minutes before for non-members.
- The arena is at 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose.
- The arena publishes no tailgating policy.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Bags up to 20 x 14 x 11 inches are permitted if they fit under the seat; bags larger than 5 x 9 x 2 inches receive X-ray screening.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
For Sharks games, guests may bring reasonable amounts of outside food and non-alcoholic beverages for personal consumption.
- A card or a phone wallet
SAP Center is near-cashless and uses credit cards as its primary payment method.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
All SAP Center tickets are digital and available through the Sharks + SAP Center app, Ticketmaster app, or mobile web.
- A layer for the walk in
January evenings average 43°F outside SAP Center.
- A rain layer for the walk in
January averages 3.0 inches of rain outside SAP Center.
San Jose Sharks Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official San Jose Sharks gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
SAP Center official site: Parking, Pricing and Directions, and Arena FAQs
- Venue policies
Current SAP Center arena FAQ, bag, accessibility, parking, prohibited-items, mobile-ticketing, and San Jose Sharks concessions pages reviewed for Sharks policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals