Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E) provides a single resource for business partners to utilize when planning their sports and event relationships. Taking full advantage of the expertise and capabilities involving all or part of the San Jose Sharks business operations — including marketing, corporate partnership sales management, broadcast, ticket sales, event presentation, community programs, media relations, advertising, facilities, promotions, publishing, merchandising and additional areas of the organization — helps the success of any program.

Created in the summer of 2000, SVS&E oversees all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks, HP Pavilion at San Jose and select HP Pavilion events. In addition, SVS&E manages all or parts of Sharks Ice at San Jose (the Sharks training and public skating facility), Sharks Ice at Fremont, Oakland Ice Arena operated by Sharks Ice, the SAP Open tennis tournament (ATP Tour), the American Hockey League’s Worcester Sharks (the Sharks top development affiliate) as well as select marquee HP Pavilion events such as American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank (professional boxing) and Strike Force Mixed Martial Arts.

Benefits of a business arrangement with SVS&E allow the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion Management to combine existing marketing programs, sales resources and contacts to create more efficient and meaningful business partnerships. SVS&E allows the organization to provide fully integrated advertising/corporate partnership packages that reach the multiple demographic segments represented in Silicon Valley.

Entities utilizing the experience and services of SVS&E have included the San Jose Grand Prix, the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League and the San Francisco Dragons of Major League Lacrosse, the San Jose Stealth of National Lacrosse League, the Golden Baseball League, the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS, the Siebel Open Senior PGA tournament and other events and properties.

From 2000-02, SVS&E ran the operations of the San Jose Earthquakes, which moved to Houston in 2005, and included their first MLS Championship season in 2001.

Another option for business partners, SVS&E Publishing, was created in 2001. SVS&E Publishing, a full-service publishing division, handles a majority of the design, editorial and printing needs for most of the SVS&E properties. In addition, SVS&E Publishing produces publications for numerous outside clients including the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 2003, SVS&E Merchandise was added to the SVS&E family. SVSE Merchandise is an industry leader and innovator in all aspects of building a brand. With a client list that includes many of the Silicon Valley’s top corporations, professional sports teams and major sport events, SVS&E Merchandise has both the expertise and understanding necessary to help develop a brand. Services include graphics and production, event merchandise management, online stores with fulfillment and customer support, VIP gifting and motivational/recognition programs.

SVS&E was a key element in the 2002 purchase of the organization and its assets from previous Owner George Gund III by a local ownership group, San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises (SJSEE), led by current President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Jamison.

In 2001, the organization entered into a naming rights rebranding of San Jose Arena with Compaq Computer Corporation and the City of San Jose. The agreement, which was amended in 2002 to reflect the subsequent merger between Compaq and HP, runs through 2015 and provided a new name to Northern California’s premier sports and entertainment venue, resulting in HP Pavilion. The agreement ensures the Sharks will remain in San Jose for the foreseeable future and the facility receives necessary amenities, upgrades and improvements its patrons have come to expect and enjoy.

During the summer of 2007, SVS&E oversaw $16.5 million of improvements — which included new LED signage displays throughout the seating area of the Pavilion, a new state-of-the-art high-resolution scoreboard and a superior sound and video system to support high definition.

Business arrangements similar to SVS&E aren’t uncommon in the sports and arena management industry. Other examples of this type of business arrangement include Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment in Vancouver which oversees the management of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL and GM Place; Kroenke Sports Enterprises in Colorado which manages the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL and the Pepsi Center; and Palace Sports & Entertainment in Detroit which operates the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, the Palace of Auburn Hills as well as the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL which plays its games in Tampa, Fla.