Local government: Sharks Ice sports complex takes steps forward
Sharks, city of Gilroy unveil plans for state-of-the-art sports complex
The city of Gilroy and the San Jose Sharks have partnered to build an ice sports facility in Gilroy. Rendering courtesy city of Gilroy
By Calvin Nuttall
Gilroy is set to become a premier destination for ice sports enthusiasts. City officials, in partnership with the San Jose Sharks, unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art ice sports complex at the Gilroy Sports Park.
Run by Sharks Sports & Entertainment LLC, the facility will feature two NHL-sized rinks as well as ancillary amenities including a retail store and a bar and restaurant.
Rendering courtesy city of Gilroy
The project is now moving from its initial design phase into a request for qualifications (RQF) phase. When completed by a projected date of fall 2026, it promises to bring new recreational opportunities to Gilroy as well as promoting economic growth, and community engagement through hockey sports tournaments, figure skating competitions, and public ice skating.
“The Ice Center is a huge score for Gilroy and for the future of our Sports Park,” said Mayor Marie Blankley. “This is exactly the kind of economic development Gilroy needs to spur our economy, grow our commercial opportunities, and provide activities for youth and adults alike. I am hopeful that this is only the start of what’s to come for commercial and recreational development within and around the Gilroy Sports Park.”
City Administrator Jimmy Forbis, city presented an overview of the facility’s completed design at the May 6 Gilroy City Council meeting.
“We’re taking a very high-level look at this project and giving you and the public their very first idea of what this thing is going to look like,” he told the council. “This was actually the original focus of the economic development partnership many years ago that wanted to engage with some of our community partners in San Jose.”
The ice complex is one of three economic development initiatives that arose from that partnership, which were approved by the council in an effort to make Gilroy a recreation destination. The others were Gourmet Alley, now under construction, and a project to develop the 536 acres of city-owned land around Gilroy Gardens, still in preliminary discussions. (In a May 9 announcement, Gilroy Communications Manager Rachelle Bedell stated the city has ended negotiations with BayEcotarium to purchase the property.)
“Another big milestone for us as a city was getting the Gilroy voters to approve a 2022 charter amendment for design/build,” Forbis said. “We’re going to see the benefits of that charter amendment as we’re going to move quite quickly from this concept of design onto actually getting the ground dug into and starting going vertical.”
Rendering courtesy city of Gilroy
Initial discussions on the project at the policy level took place five years ago, with the design plans just now being finalized. The original term sheet agreed to by the city council included after-school programs and free admission for students, regardless of economic status.
“We want to get kids onto the ice whether they can afford it or not, to get them exposed to the great game of hockey, and ice skating,” Forbis said. “When you think of a hockey rink, you think of a big sheet of ice. But, there is so much more at play. You don’t even have to be there to enjoy the ice. You may want to be there just to be a part of the community. It is really a community center, just specifically for ice.”
The city council hopes the ice facility will attract recreationists and hockey teams already using other facilities, as there is more demand for ice facilities than there is availability in the existing market.
“There are a lot of ancillary ways to create revenue with this facility,” Forbis said. “It’s not just about putting skates on and being on the ice. You have retail, you have food and drink, and all of those experiences.”
The facility will consist of two levels. The lower level, housing the ice rinks, skate rental facility, cafe, and retail store, is roughly 65,000 square feet. The upper level consists of a mezzanine structure that is open space, and is about 15,000 square feet. It will contain a 1,300-square-foot fitness center, and the bar and restaurant overlooking the ice.
“This is going to be a facility that will be fully operated by the Sharks,” Blankley said. “We will have a lease for them to operate it. That is why this is coming at next to no cost to the city, because they’re operating it and making the payments on the bond that is going to fund the construction of this. It is a real win for Gilroy, and we’re very appreciative of this relationship that is coming to fruition here.”
In preparation for the facility’s eventual construction, the council has already approved the installation of improvements to the traffic signals on Monterey Road at the site of the Gilroy Sports Park due to the anticipated increase in traffic.
“Now that we have the design completed, we’re prepared to go to the construction bid, which is quite the challenge right now,” Forbis said. “As part of the preparation of the design/build package, there will be a request for qualification process that allows the city and the Sharks to decide on who is the best construction company to design and build in one fell swoop. That will come to council at some point later this year.”
The city has yet to release a full financing plan, with that expected to come sometime after the city has received bids from construction companies for the project.
“These are exciting times for Gilroy,” said Councilmember Tom Cline. “It’s something that’s been in the works for a long time, and being part of that process has been fun to watch and fun to be a part of. And now to get to see the fruit of it is exciting and it is great to have world-class organization like the Sharks who are doing this project with us. It is going to benefit us all the way across the board — and make a big impact on this community and the surrounding area.”
Calvin Nuttall is a Morgan Hill-based freelance reporter and columnist.