Sharks Ice at San Jose has signed on Tech CU as the name sponsor for the arena being built for the San Jose Barracuda hockey team, in a 10-year deal approved by the San Jose City Council on Tuesday.
The new 4,200-seat Tech CU Arena at Sharks Ice at San Jose — or Tech CU Arena — is expected to open in August, attached to the ever-growing ice-skating facility on the corner of 10th Street and Alma Avenue. You might as well call that area “Credit Union Corner” with all the sports facilities around there bearing names of financial institutions.
Besides Tech CU Arena, there’s also Excite Ballpark — the former Municipal Stadium that’s home to the San Jose Giants — and CEFCU Stadium, which many of us still think of as Spartan Stadium, across the street from Sharks Ice. Not do be outdone, Provident Credit Union snagged the naming rights for San Jose State’s Event Center on campus. Star One Credit Union has stayed out of the name game so far, but maybe there’s a possibility if that new cricket facility gets built at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.
(And should you wonder why so many banks and other related companies have their names on sports arenas like Chase Center, SoFi Stadium and PayPal Park, it’s the same reason Willie Sutton robbed banks: Because that’s where the money is.)
By the way, the council approval happened a couple of weeks later than expected because it was noticed that while the longer, official name of the arena included “San Jose,” the exterior signage planned for the facility did not. The resolution passed Tuesday includes wording that will require Sharks Ice to include the city’s name on exterior signage in any future naming-rights agreements for the city-owned facility.
PROJECT CORNERSTONE RETURNS: Since the driving force behind the YMCA’s Project Cornerstone initiative is to provide good role models and a caring environment for students, you could have guessed the program wouldn’t be put off for long because of COVID-19. So after being forced to cancel in 2020 and holding a virtual event with no awards year, Project Cornerstone is bringing back its roster of awards for this year’s virtual Asset Champions Celebration on March 24.
The online ceremony will honor the following schools and individuals: LUCHA Elementary School in Alum Rock School District (Caring Elementary School); Luther Burbank Middle School (Caring Middle School); Mountain View High School (Caring High School); Yonit Parenti of Easterbrook Discovery School (Adult Role Model); Matthew Leffler of Baseball Buddies (Positive Peer Influence); José Valdés Math Institute (Community Values Youth); Elena Robles, Folklórico Nacional Mexicano (Positive Cultural Values).
Kindness Boomerang video creator Orly Wahba will emcee the event, which will also feature entertainment by San Jose Junior Taiko and San Jose native Megan Masako Haley, who has performed in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions. You can find out more about the program and register for the free 10 a.m. event at www.ymcasv.org/ymca-project-cornerstone.
A LAUGH FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS: After two years of delays created by COVID-19, San Jose Playhouse is finally launching its live theater season with the comedy “La Cage Aux Folles,” opening March 31 at downtown’s 3Below Theatres. And as a special thank you for their heroic service during the pandemic, healthcare workers are being offered free tickets to the show, which runs through April 24 and stars Stephen Guggenheim and Alan Palmer (known for his one-man, off-Broadway show, “The Fabulous Divas of Broadway.”
“We’ve been patiently waiting for a slot in our production calendar that would match Mr. Palmer’s availability so he could bring his considerable talent and experience to this role,” San Jose Playhouse Executive Director Scott Guggenheim said.
To request complimentary tickets for yourself or as a gift to a healthcare worker, visit sanjoseplayhouse.org/hero.
Source: www.mercurynews.com