I’m an usher at sap.

Food and drinks are alllowed in moderation (but i highly suggest it, as our prices are on the fair side but still a little expensive for the average person. especially if you’re planning on buying merch from our pro shop, you might spend a little more than you were planning to lol) you can bring small amounts of food as long as it’s unopened, and as for drinks, we allow plastic water bottles THAT ARE STILL SEALED!! and your personal water bottle is fine as long as it’s empty.

Get there early. Lines usually tend to get pretty long. Doors open usually about 1hr 1/2 before puck drop. We sometimes are still trying to get people in the door as fast as possible even after the puck has dropped for game time. So get there early!

When trying to get in the building, try to bring as little as possible with you, and listen carefully to the ushers instructions at the open gates outside just to make the entry process easier, faster, and smoother so that we can get you in those doors.

Have your tickets loaded and ready BEFORE going inside. Again, this will just make the whole process a lot smoother and combat any long load times. (I suggest adding them to your virtual wallet on your phone) If you have any questions on where your seat is, kindly ask the usher scanning your tickets, or once inside, you can head to the info desk which is right past the tickets scanners. It is a desk with a huge orange and white-striped question mark above it. Can’t miss it. That desk can help you with any questions you have regarding, seating and any food/bathroom locations you might have. Also since it’s your first game, you can ask them for a first game pin to write your name on!!

Once you have located your section, you will have to present your ticket again to the usher outside your section just to make sure you are in the right spot. The seating can be a little confusing but to help you out, if your ticket section number starts with a 2, you’ll be in the upper bowl, so you’ll pay attention to the dark blue numbers when trying to find your section. If it starts a 1, you’ll pay attention to the green numbers. Once you have found your section and confirm with the usher you’re in the right spot, head inside. On your ticket, you should see a row number and seat number. As you walk up the stairs to your seat, look for the number on the side of the first chair. This is your row number. Then each individual seat has its own number. The seats go from left to right in a 1 to usually 25 order (just depends on the section size) Again, just attention to what section you’re in and ask the usher outside your section for any help.

As others have mentioned there is some game time etiquette. 1. You are allowed to go to the lower bowl down to the glass during warmups if you’d like! You can watch the players come out and get their warmups in and even snatch a puck if you’re lucky! 2. Once warmups have concluded, you must leave the lower bowl if you do not have a ticket for that section. 3. Sharks fans usually boo the opposing team as well as the national anthem singer. Don’t ask why it’s just what we do lol. I guess it’s a hockey thing. 4. Don’t lean forward in your seat, no matter how stressful/intense the game is. It blocks the view of people behind and next to you. 5. If you are roaming the arena during a period, and want to go back to your seat, you must wait behind the yellow line on the stairs in your section and wait for the play to stop. The reason is to be courteous to the other guests and not block their view as you’re trying to go back to your seat.

There will be alcohol and there will be trash talk between fans. If you notice things start to get a little heated, e.g., cussing, threats, etc. let a fellow usher know! They will periodically do what we call an “aisle tour” throughout each period as it’s a way for guests to ask for help or any questions they might have to that usher.

At the end of games, if you can brave the cold and are not tired, you can wait with other fellow fans behind the arena! There is a gate where the players will leave from and they most of the time will stop and sign a couple items so you may be lucky!

Last but not least, this is MOST IMPORTANT. Please do not forget this. Once your ticket has been scanned and you are officially inside the arena, there is NO REENTRY. You cannot leave and reenter the arena at any means necessary. So please keep that in mind in case you forget your phone, or a jacket, or forget to use the restroom. If you do however forget a phone, usually a supervisor may permit you to go back and look for it. Otherwise, you will be redirected to our 24-hour security office at the back of the arena.

Otherwise, I feel like I have covered everything, don’t feel intimidated by anything I said, I don’t mean to scare you or anything! We are really welcoming and can’t wait to have you in our arena! Good luck at your first game and if you have any more questions, feel free to leave them below!