Sharks, Warriors set to drop vaccine, testing requirements for fans
Fans attending San Jose Sharks games at SAP Center will no longer be
required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry
>SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Fans head in to the arena for game three of
the Western Conference Finals between the San Jose Sharks and the St.
Louis Blues during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on
May 19, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Christian
Petersen/Getty Images)
>SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Fans head in to the arena for game three of the
Western Conference Finals between the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis
Blues during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 19,
2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
By CURTIS PASHELKA | cpashelka@bayareanewsgroup.com and MADELINE KENNEY
| mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: March 28, 2022 at 3:55 p.m. | UPDATED: March 29, 2022 at 9:05
a.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/03/28/sharks-dropping-vaccine-testing-requirements-for-games-at-sap-center/

SAN JOSE – Responding to updated health guidelines from the state,
Sharks Sports & Entertainment announced Monday that starting this
weekend, fans attending hockey games at SAP Center will no longer be
required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry.

The change is in line with the Chase Center’s modification announced
last week.

California’s Department of Public Health on March 17 stated that instead
of requiring proof of full vaccination or evidence of recent negative
COVID-19 test for entry into indoor mega-events, it would move to a
“strong recommendation” to the public to use those measures for limiting
the spread of the virus.

The state’s new guidelines go into effect Friday. The Sharks’ next home
game is Saturday against the Dallas Stars.

Wednesday’s Warriors game against the Suns will be the last time Chase
Center spectators will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative
test result. However, unvaccinated fans are still required to wear
masks, per the city’s mandate, when they’re not actively eating or drinking.

In its news release, SSE noted that “certain event promoters may choose
to implement restrictions at SAP Center” and that it would be “in
communication with ticketholders in advance, as applicable.”

Previously, all guests 2 or older attending events at SAP Center had to
either be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test.
Mega-events are defined as being indoor crowds greater than 1,000 or
outdoor crowds greater than 10,000.

A spokesperson for San Jose’s COVID-19 recovery response department said
the city “supports the SAP Center’s alignment with recent changes in
local and State COVID policies.”

California has had a test positivity rate over the last seven days of
1.3 percent, down from a seven-day rolling average of 22.5 percent in
early January during the height of the omicron surge. Santa Clara
County’s seven-day positivity rate as of Monday was 1.8 percent, a 0.4
percent increase from the previous seven-day rate.

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The Sharks have announced an average of 12,443 tickets sold for their 34
home games so far this season at the 17,562-seat arena. That’s down from
an average of 16,427 for 36 home games in 2019-2020 before the start of
the pandemic.

In February, SSE president Jonathan Becher said the pandemic is the
biggest reason why attendance for NHL games this season has dropped so
dramatically.

Becher said some patrons are either still concerned about contracting
the virus or not in agreement with vaccine mandates.

“Some people are not comfortable coming back to mega-events,
5,000-to-10,000 or more people,” Becher said. “Frankly, some people are
comfortable, but they don’t want to deal with (vaccinations), boosters,
masks, etc.”

--
Curtis Pashelka | San Jose Sharks reporter
Curtis Pashelka is the San Jose Sharks reporter for the Bay Area News
Group. Prior to covering the Sharks, Curtis served as the high school
sports editor for the East Bay. He also worked as a general assignment
reporter covering motorsports, golf and college basketball, and as a
backup writer on the A's, Giants and Warriors. He started at the
organization in 2000 and spent close to eight years covering high school
sports.
cpashelka@bayareanewsgroup.com Follow Curtis Pashelka @CurtisPashelka

--
Madeline Kenney | Warriors reporter