Huge expansion planned for Sharks Ice skating complex in San Jose

SAN JOSE — A dramatic expansion of the Sharks Ice complex in San Jose is in the works, a project that would add two ice rinks and more than double the size of the facility, according to a proposal under review at City Hall.

The existing Sharks Ice center, a popular complex a short distance south of downtown San Jose whose official name is Solar4America Ice at San Jose, would be nearly 385,000 square feet in size once construction is complete and 204,000 square feet are added.

“The ice center is one of the best-kept secrets in San Jose,” Jon Gustafson, vice president of Sharks Ice, said Tuesday. “We provide a tremendous amount of recreational opportunities to the community in a very broad-based way.”

After the project is complete, the current four-rink ice center will have six rinks.

“The existing Solar 4America Ice Facility, associated parking, the Excite Ballpark, and the Municipal Firing Range” are currently located on the 21.2-acre site, according to city documents.

The project developers intend to bulldoze the firing range and a portion of the existing parking lot to clear the way for the development at the ice complex, which is located at 1500 S. 10th St. near East Alma Street in San Jose.

At present, the ice center totals roughly 180,000 square feet.

“The project will add approximately 204,193 square feet of new space to the existing 179,687 square-foot facility, including a community and practice ice rink, Rink 5; and a 4,213-seat competition rink, Rink 6, for the San Jose Barracuda,” the city planning documents show. The Barracuda is the AHL affiliate of the Sharks and an estimated 34 events a year would be staged at Rink 6.

“The arena-style rink with 4,200 seats will host Barracuda home games during the season,” Gustafson said. “The Barracuda now play at SAP Center, but the smaller and more intimate rink will definitely create a different vibe and feel for our AHL team.”

On non-event days, Rink 6 would be operated similarly to Rink 5, the community and practice rink. The existing four rinks at the ice complex are also primarily dedicated to public and community uses, as well as practice sessions.

High school hockey, as well as an array of regional, national, or even international skating events could be held at the center with the new facilities.

“Associated ancillary uses such as locker rooms, restrooms, spectator seating, ticket lobby, concessions, commissary, merchandise sales, bar, restaurant, lounge concepts, security and event offices, team training areas, and loading dock and utility areas are also included in the project,” the city planning documents stated.

In addition, 20,000 square feet of medical offices would be built as part of the project. These could be used for the treatment or training of athletes.

“A reception and lobby area, restrooms, offices, exam rooms, and support services” would be part of the medical offices, according to city documents.

The San Jose City Council is slated to vote on the project next week.

The proposed expansion in the most recent version of the proposal is significantly larger than a preliminary proposal that the San Jose Sharks company had floated nearly two years ago. At that time, an expansion of 178,000 square feet was envisioned, with no mention of a rink for the San Jose Barracuda.

Solar4America Ice is the official training facility for the San Jose Sharks and is the home arena for the San Jose State University Spartans hockey team.

Events and activities at the San Jose ice center include public skating, public and private skating programs, hockey programs, broomball, curling, speed skating, and ice dancing.

“This ice center isn’t going to be a secret any longer,” Gustafson said. “This is going to be an almost 400,000-square-foot facility that will be open 365 days a year for our community.”

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