Fanatics announced a new long-term deal with the San Jose Sharks to operate all in-venue team merchandise sales at SAP Center at San Jose beginning with the upcoming 2016/17 season.
Fanatics also runs multichannel commerce for a number of professional and collegiate teams as well as on-site retail for some of the NHL’s biggest events such as Winter Classics, All-Star Games and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
With Fanatics operating the official e-commerce sites for both the NHL and the Sharks, this new in-venue partnership now offers fans an omni-channel shopping experience with access to a large selection of team merchandise and memorabilia online, on their phones and at the games. Within SAP Center, product assortment across men’s, women’s and kids will be expanded and the overall retail experience improved to include more checkout centers throughout the arena.
“As we approach the start of the season, we are excited to work with Fanatics, a key NHL partner, to bring a broad range of diverse, best-in-class retail offerings to our dedicated fans and customers throughout SAP Center,” said John Tortora, chief operating officer for Sharks Sports & Entertainment. “We now boast an amazing assortment of options for fans to purchase the widest selection of merchandise ever available at the arena, and we are confident that the shopping experience will be enhanced for everyone attending both Sharks and Barracuda games.”
To better serve fans, Fanatics will also update and expand the overall retail footprint within SAP Center, including strategic renovations of the team’s retail store and satellite locations throughout the venue.
“SAP Center houses some of the best fans in hockey and provides an amazing environment to watch a game. We look forward to adding to the excitement and bringing our cutting-edge technology and unmatched assortment of merchandise to provide the best omni-channel shopping experience for fans throughout the season,” said Gary Gertzog, Fanatics president of business affairs.
