The San Jose Barracuda are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the San Jose Sharks NHL team. With the Sharks leaving their current AHL home, the SAP Center in San Jose, after the 2021-22 season, the question becomes: where will the Barracuda play starting in 2022-23?
Why are the Sharks leaving the SAP Center?
The Sharks are leaving the SAP Center because their new AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, will take over as the primary tenant. The Sharks want their AHL team to have a guaranteed home arena, which was not possible sharing the SAP Center with the NHL team. Additionally, having both teams in the same arena was logistically challenging. This move will give each team their own home.
What are the Barracuda’s options for their new home arena?
The Barracuda have a few options for where they could play starting in 2022-23:
SAP Center
The Barracuda could remain in the SAP Center, taking over as the sole tenant after the Sharks depart. The advantage is it would be familiar for fans and convenient for the organization. The disadvantage is the large size of the arena (over 17,000 seats) is not ideal for an AHL team.
New Arena in San Jose
There have been proposals to build a new, smaller arena in San Jose designed for the Barracuda. The advantage would be a arena perfectly sized for an AHL team. The disadvantage is the cost and timeframe to construct a new arena.
Shared Arena in San Jose
The Barracuda could share an existing smaller arena in San Jose, such as the San Jose Civic. The advantage is a lower cost option in a familiar location. The disadvantage is needing to schedule around other tenants.
Arena outside of San Jose
There are existing arenas within driving distance of San Jose that could host the Barracuda. For example, Oracle Arena in Oakland after the Warriors depart for Chase Center. The advantage is utilizing an existing venue. The disadvantage is being outside of San Jose proper.
What criteria are the Sharks/Barracuda looking for in a new home arena?
Based on statements from Sharks and Barracuda leadership, they are looking for an arena that meets the following criteria:
- Seating capacity of 8,000 – 10,000 for an ideal AHL size
- Availability for the Barracuda to be the primary tenant
- Location within the greater San Jose/Bay Area to maintain existing fan base
- Affordable terms that make sense financially compared to projected revenue
- Modern amenities for fans, players, and operations
What arena plan did the city of San Jose approve?
In March 2022, the San Jose city council approved a term sheet for a new arena to be built in the downtown area. Key details include:
- Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 seats, meeting the Barracuda’s target size
- Privately financed by the Sharks, cost estimated around $200 million
- Located just northwest of the SAP Center in downtown San Jose
- Target completion for the 2024-25 AHL season
This agreement meets many of the criteria the Barracuda were seeking in a new home arena.
What are the remaining hurdles to finalizing the new arena plan?
While San Jose has approved a term sheet for the new arena, a few key steps remain:
- Finalizing binding contracts between the Sharks and the city
- Securing financing and settling the final budget
- Completing detailed architectural and engineering plans
- Obtaining permits and going through governmental review processes
- Potential legal challenges during the review process
The timeline is tight to have the arena completed in time for 2024-25, so swift execution will be required.
What will happen if the San Jose arena plan falls through?
If the new San Jose arena proposal ultimately does not come to fruition, the Barracuda would likely pursue one of their other arena options as a contingency:
- Remain at SAP Center as primary tenant
- Play at an existing nearby venue like Oracle Arena
- Build a new arena outside of San Jose in a neighboring city
The Sharks leadership has indicated they are committed to finding the Barracuda a long-term home within the greater San Jose market, so they will pursue alternatives if the current proposal stalls.
Conclusion
Here is a summary timeline of expected events:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2022 | San Jose approves term sheet for new arena |
| Mid 2022 | Final contracts and financing completed |
| Late 2022 | Construction begins on new arena |
| 2024-25 season | Target for Barracuda to begin play in new arena |
In conclusion, the San Jose Barracuda are planned to begin play in a new arena built specifically for the AHL team in time for the 2024-25 season. The venue will seat 8,000 – 10,000 fans and be located in downtown San Jose near the current SAP Center. While still pending final approvals and construction, this privately financed arena will provide the Barracuda a long-term home in the market. If the new arena plan falls through for any reason, the team will pursue backup options to ensure they have a home arena ready when the Sharks leave the SAP Center after 2021-22.
What challenges could impact the Barracuda’s future in San Jose?
While the plans are in place for the Barracuda to move into a new arena by 2024-25, some potential challenges could impact that timeline or viability:
Construction Delays
Arena construction projects often face delays due to various factors like permitting, materials supply, or labor issues. Any significant delays could push the opening past 2024-25, forcing the Barracuda to play additional seasons in a temporary situation.
Increased Costs
Rising inflation, materials costs, and borrowing rates could drive up the arena budget significantly from the original $200 million estimate. That may require reworking the financing plan and could force cutbacks to the arena design.
Recession Impacts
An economic downturn could impact corporate sponsorship, premium seating, ticket sales, and other revenue streams, putting pressure on the arena financing. Fewer company dollars could mean less money available for naming rights and luxury suites.
Fan Friction
Playing outside San Jose proper, even just in a neighboring city, could anger some existing fans used to the convenience of SAP Center’s downtown location. Public transit, travel, parking, and traffic concerns would need to be addressed.
Legal Actions
As seen with other major development projects, it is likely various legal challenges will be brought attempting to block the arena. While likely to fail, drawn-out lawsuits could introduce delays and cost overruns.
How important is it for the Barracuda to stay in the San Jose market?
Remaining in greater San Jose is viewed as critical by Barracuda and Sharks leadership for several reasons:
- Maintain existing fan base – Many current season ticket holders and fans are from the local area and rely on the convenient San Jose location.
- Support from community – Corporate support and public funding require strong ties and benefit to the local community.
- Talent pipeline – The Sharks have touted the benefit of having their AHL affiliate close by for player development and call ups.
- Marketing synergy – The Sharks and Barracuda benefit from shared marketing in the San Jose market to create a captive audience.
Leaving the greater San Jose area could negatively impact ticket sales, corporate support, public relations, player development, and marketing. However, remaining in the market without a suitable long-term venue solution could also jeopardize the franchise. That makes securing a new arena by 2024-25 a high priority.
What if the Barracuda had to relocate to a new market?
If the new San Jose arena plan falls through and no suitable contingency can be found in the market, the Barracuda may be forced to relocate to an entirely new city. Here is an analysis of the impact if the team moved to a market like Portland, Sacramento, or Salt Lake City:
| Market | Arena Options | Fan Base Potential | Impact on Sharks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | Veterans Memorial Coliseum (12,000 seats) would be available after Trail Blazers depart; existing hockey market | Portland has had AHL hockey before and has shown willingness to support hockey teams; existing junior hockey fan base to draw from | Makes direct player movement between Sharks and Barracuda much more challenging with increased distance; air travel would be required |
| Sacramento | New arena in planning; previous AHL presence with the Knights franchise | Existing hockey fan base from the Knights tenure; convenient location for Bay Area fans | Proximity to San Jose reduces travel impact compared to other markets |
| Salt Lake City | Vivint Smart Home Arena available; ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies prove minor league hockey viability | State has some hockey interest thanks to the Grizzlies but unproven ability to support AHL | Travel and player movement difficult from San Jose; limited marketing synergies |
As the analysis shows, relocating would introduce a number of risks and downsides compared to remaining in the San Jose market. While other viable markets with available arenas may exist, the preference is clearly to make things work in San Jose to maintain stability.
Could the Barracuda be forced to fold without a new arena?
As an absolute worst-case scenario, the Barracuda franchise could fold if they are unable to secure a viable long-term arena solution in any location.
The Sharks have indicated the Barracuda losing their home at SAP Center is an existential threat to the franchise if replacement options do not work out. While the preference is keeping the AHL affiliate, the organization has suggested they would not continue subsidizing a team without a home arena.
Folding the Barracuda could have the following negative impacts:
- Loss of existing fan base, sales, and sponsorships
- Weakened development pipeline for Sharks prospects
- Less marketing and community presence without the second team
- Loss of income from the AHL franchise and arena events
However, the Sharks appear committed to exhausting all possible avenues before letting the situation get to that worst-case point. They continue to express confidence that the Barracuda will have a solid home in time for 2022-23, whether in the new San Jose arena or an alternative if needed.
Could the Barracuda move to the ECHL?
If the AHL franchise had to fold, the Sharks could potentially move their affiliate to the ECHL level instead. This would be a reduction in prestige and development quality from having an AHL affiliate. Reasons it could make sense include:
- Lower costs to operate at the ECHL level
- Potentially easier to find an available existing venue
- Maintain some development pipeline, though reduced
However, the Sharks have given no indication this is being considered. Their clear priority is securing an AHL-caliber venue for the Barracuda by the start of 2022-23.
How will this saga conclude for the Barracuda and their fans?
The most likely outcome based on current indications is:
- The Barracuda will move into the proposed new arena in time for 2024-25
- They will play two interim seasons 2022-23 and 2023-24 at an alternative temporary home in the San Jose market (SAP Center, San Jose Civic, Oracle Arena, etc)
- Some delays or cost overruns during construction are possible but unlikely to prevent opening by 2024-25
- Fan support will remain relatively stable during the transition
This will provide the Barracuda and Sharks stability, maintain their development pipeline, and retain most of the existing fan base. While frustrations over an intermediate move are inevitable, once in the new modern arena most fans will be satisfied.
More negative outcomes like relocation or folding cannot be ruled out entirely, but appear unlikely based on the Sharks’ statements and actions to date. Barring major unforeseen circumstances, the Barracuda are expected to remain in San Jose playing AHL hockey for the foreseeable future.