Quick Answer
Yes, you can bring food into a San Jose Sharks game at the SAP Center. The arena allows fans to bring in outside food and unopened plastic beverage bottles as long as they follow some guidelines. Food must be in a small, clear plastic bag no larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″. Fans are limited to one bag of food per person.
What food can you bring to a Sharks game?
Fans are allowed to bring in a variety of foods to a Sharks game, including things like:
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Pizza
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Chips
- Candy
- Cookies
- Crackers
Essentially, you can bring in any type of food as long as it fits inside a small, clear plastic bag. Food also needs to be in its original unopened packaging. The arena does not allow outside beverages except for sealed plastic water and soda bottles.
Are there any food restrictions for Sharks games?
The SAP Center does have some minor restrictions on what kinds of food you can bring into a Sharks game:
- No alcohol or glass containers
- No metal cutlery
- No food that requires on-site preparation like portable grills or crockpots
- No large coolers or hard-sided containers
So foods must be ready to eat as-is. The venue wants to prevent issues like long security lines and food prep at seats that could detract from the game experience.
Why does SAP Center allow outside food?
Many sports venues prohibit fans from bringing any outside food or drink as a way to boost concession sales. However, the San Jose Sharks organization decided to allow outside food for a few key reasons:
- To provide a more affordable and convenient game experience for fans, especially families.
- To reduce waiting times at arena concession stands.
- To give fans greater choice and variety around their game food.
The policy creates goodwill with Sharks fans and gives families more affordable options like packing a simple meal or snacks from home. The team still benefits from food sales to fans that opt to buy meals, snacks, and drinks inside the arena.
How much money can you save by bringing food to a Sharks game?
Bringing your own food to a Sharks game can lead to significant savings compared to buying food inside SAP Center. Here’s a breakdown:
Food Item | Inside Cost | Outside Cost | Savings |
---|---|---|---|
Hot dog | $6.00 | $2.50 | $3.50 |
Nachos | $8.00 | $3.00 | $5.00 |
20 oz Soda | $5.50 | $1.50 | $4.00 |
Beer | $12.00 | BYOB | $12.00 |
TOTAL | $31.50 | $7.00 | $24.50 |
Bringing a simple meal could easily save a family of four over $100 compared to buying from the concession stands. Over an entire season that adds up to major savings for Sharks fans on food costs.
Is food allowed at your seat during Sharks games?
Yes, all food and beverages brought from outside are allowed to be carried to your seat and consumed during the game. This policy applies to all seating areas in the arena.
Fans should be mindful of cleaning up after themselves and not leaving large amounts of trash under seats. But the Sharks do not restrict where you can eat any permissible outside foods. You also do not have to keep outside food hidden once passing through arena security screening.
Can you bring food inside for suite tickets and special seating areas?
Outside food policies are the same for all ticket holders at SAP Center. Whether you have general admission, club level, or VIP suite tickets, you are allowed to bring in your own food as long as it follows the venue guidelines.
The only major exception is for tickets that come with all-inclusive food and beverage services, like a luxury suite or VIP club pass. In those cases, outside food is not allowed since food costs are already bundled into the ticket price.
What kind of clear plastic bags can you use for food items?
Fans can bring permitted food inside the following types of clear plastic bags:
- Reusable grocery tote bags
- Plastic sandwich/snack bags
- Plastic freezer bags
- Ziploc style resealable bags
- Clear plastic containers with lids
The bags must be completely transparent and free of any colored tint. Bag dimensions cannot exceed 14″ x 14″ x 6″ – about the size of a gallon freezer bag. Each person is limited to one bag for food, though you can have separate permitted bags for blankets, jackets, medical supplies, etc.
Can you bring reusable water bottles or thermoses?
Yes, reusable water bottles and thermoses are allowed inside the arena. They can be any size and do not need to fit in your small clear plastic food bag.
The bottles just need to meet the following guidelines:
- Must be empty upon entry.
- No metal or glass containers.
- Only unopened plastic bottles with caps still sealed.
Once inside, you can fill empty reusable bottles and thermoses at any of the free water refill stations. This is a great way to save money on drinks while staying hydrated.
Where do you have to throw away food brought from outside?
Fans do not have to dispose of any uneaten outside food on the way into SAP Center. Security staff will not make you throw away permissible items before entering.
Leftover food, trash, and wrappers will need to be thrown out upon exiting the venue. There are large trash bins by each gate to deposit items before leaving.
The arena does not want fans trying to re-enter after the game with leftover food from outside. Any items should be fully consumed during the game or tossed prior to leaving.
Can you bring food inside for concerts or other events at SAP Center?
Policies around outside food are slightly different for other events held at the arena besides San Jose Sharks games. Rules can vary depending on the promoter or nature of the event.
In many cases, no outside food or drink is allowed inside for concerts, Disney on Ice, wrestling, and other performances at SAP Center. Bags are more strictly enforced. The venue website should list food rules for specific upcoming events that differ from regular Sharks games.
Is food confiscated if you bring prohibited items?
You will not have outside food items confiscated by SAP Center security if you accidentally bring something prohibited. However, you will be asked to dispose of the disallowed item before entering.
Common prohibited items include:
- Alcohol
- Glass containers
- Metal utensils
- Cans or opaque containers
- Coolers and picnic baskets
Disposal typically means throwing away or consuming the item outside before passing through security screening. Confiscation of outside food only occurs if someone tries to sneak in truly disallowed items.
Can you exit and re-enter with outside food?
No, fans are not permitted to exit the arena and re-enter with any outside food. All food brought in must be fully consumed during the game or disposed of prior to initial entry.
Security will not allow you to exit, add more food from outside, and return to your seat. Doing so could enable prohibited items to bypass security screening.
If you need to retrieve something from your car, it cannot be any type of food, beverage, cooler, grill, or other prohibited item. Re-entry is only granted for necessity, not outside food access.
Conclusion
The San Jose Sharks offer one of the most permissive food policies in professional sports by allowing fans to bring their own snacks and meals. While some reasonable limitations apply, families can save substantially on costs by avoiding arena concession pricing. Just be sure to bring food in clear plastic bags, avoid glass and alcohol, and be prepared to consume or toss food before initially entering or exiting SAP Center. Following the venue rules allows everyone to enjoy the game experience on their own terms and budget.