More than 1,800 “sporadic part-time workers” are employed by the San Jose Sharks — most of them on event days at the SAP Center downtown, but some at the three ice rink complexes the team operates in San Jose, Fremont and Oakland.

“A $500 grant may not mean that much to some people, I’m guessing, but for an hourly worker who’s probably working at least two and more likely even three or four jobs … it means a lot,” Sharks President Jonathan Becher said in an interview.

It may be quiet inside SAP Center right now, but the San Jose Sharks made some noise off the ice Monday by launching a relief fund for more than 1,800 part-time workers — everyone from the “blue coats” who scan tickets at the Shark Tank to the person who rents skates to kids at Solar4America Ice.

The fund is already seeded with more than $200,000 from the Sharks’ owners, players, front office staff and other corporate and individual supporters. The team is already paying its staff who are full-time (or nearly full-time) during the shelter-in-place period, but Sharks President Jonathan Becher said the fund is a way to help more employees who work at SAP Center, as well as Solar4America Ice in San Jose and Fremont and the Oakland Ice Center. All four facilities have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and part-time workers who are eligible to apply for aid will be contacted by their supervisors.

In this one on one with San Jose Sharks President Jonathan Becher, we discuss a variety of topics including: playing to an empty arena vs getting fans back in, procedure changes to SAP Center following this unprecedented time, the impact to planned arena upgrades and the new Barracuda arena, options for the ’20-’21 season, fans reassessing their financial commitments to attending sports events, a “zero barrier” for the ’19-’20 season looking back on Game 7, recommendations while people #StayAtHome, and more.

Teal Town USA – Your favorite San Jose Sharks’ post-game vodcast, for the fans, by the fans!

San Jose Sharks Majority Owner Hasso Plattner today announced changes to the organization’s business operations unit. Jonathan Becher (@jbecher) has been named sole president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE), effective immediately. Becher will also serve as an alternate governor for the franchise with the National Hockey League.

Plattner continued, “Over the last two years at the Sharks and his previous decade at SAP, I have seen first-hand that Jonathan delivers an outstanding end-to-end experience to customers. With his combination of technology and sports background, I am confident he is the right person to lead the organization through our next evolution.”

“The big portion size always gets a little more of those Instagrammable moments,” said Sharks co-President Jonathan Becher, who fans’ social media postings of what they’re eating is an increasingly important marketing tool for the team.

New rules take effect July 1; Paul McCartney will be first event

“The Clear Bag policy will not only enhance security at SAP Center, but also expedite the process of getting fans into the building,” said Jonathan Becher, president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment.  “We know there will be a period of adjustment for fans who have regularly attended SAP Center events for many years and who are accustomed to carrying the same bag at events. To make the transition easier, we’ve gotten feedback from other buildings who have already made the transition and have already tested the new policy for some of our events.”

Other Bay Area venues to adopt a clear bag policy include Levi’s Stadium and StanfordStadium. Venues, athletics leagues and others have been adopting the policy in recent years.

Read more here.

As part of the Alaska Beyond interview series, former Alaska pilot Mike ‘Swani’ Swanigan talks to Jonathan Becher, who left the high-tech world of software to land a passion job as President of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Jonathan draws parallels between tech companies and sports organization, anchoring both in culture.

You can watch the whole discussion here.