SAN JOSE, Calif. – SAP Center at San Jose and Sharks Sports and Entertainment announce a two-year partnership with Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services to become the naming rights sponsor of the Sharks Ice practice facility at San Jose Arena. The facility will now bear the name “SAP Ice at San Jose.”
On November 10, 1993, SAP Center opened as an outdoor facility adjacent to San Jose Arena. The arena is located on three city blocks – bounded by West Santa Clara Street, North Autumn Street, West Montgomery Street and North Autumn Street – at the urban heart of Silicon Valley. Over two decades later, it is recognized as one of the top arenas in the world with innovations that contribute to creating a unique guest experience including ice sheet elevation; and elimination of obstructed view seats through strategic building design
Standard & Poor’s will assume responsibility for managing the facility in addition to providing employees, mailing lists and other resources.
“San Jose Arena is an outstanding facility that has served the South Bay community well since 1993,” said Brian Jellison, senior managing director of S&P’s Sports Group. “We are excited to partner with the Sharks by re-naming this facility SAP Ice at San Jose.”
As part of the agreement, Standard & Poor’s will have opportunities to market its brand through signage located around the facility exterior as well as on rink boards for both ice sheets during all practices and games. The company is expected to launch a comprehensive advertising campaign in January 2014 featuring both its tagline “Measure what matters most” and the Sharks Ice logo.
“This is a groundbreaking partnership in that no other revenue-generating practice facility in the National Hockey League has ever sold its naming rights,” said John Tortora. “SAP’s commitment to both SAP Ice at San Jose and our Sharks Foundation makes this a natural fit for them.”