Sharks Welcome Southwest Airlines as the Team's Newest Partner

The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) announced today a strategic partnership with Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) to become the official airline of the Sharks. In addition to marketing and branding opportunities, the partnership will create opportunities for both organizations to strengthen their already profound community presence.

"We are pleased to welcome Southwest Airlines to the Sharks family of global partners," said Brian Towers, Senior Vice President, Revenue for the Sharks. "In Southwest Airlines, we have a partner that shares our interest in activating the local community through meaningful programs and entertaining content to be enjoyed by all. We look forward to building a great partnership with an industry leader."

As part of the agreement, Southwest Airlines will become the presenting partner of the Sharks Learn to Skate Program,\ a challenging, rewarding, and fun way for children and adults to learn to skate and to play hockey. The Learn to Skate Program is offered at all three Sharks-managed public ice facilities including Sharks Ice at San Jose (@sharksice), Sharks Ice at Fremont, and the Oakland Ice Center (@OICSharksIce) and impacts approximately 9,000 participants annually across all three rinks.

Additionally, the partnership will emphasize Veterans Appreciation. The Sharks and Southwest Airlines will identify and collaborate with local Bay Area Veterans groups to recognize their service to our country. That service will be acknowledged at a designated Sharks game during the 2023-24 season.

The partnership between the Sharks and Southwest Airlines will also create fun and unique travel opportunities for fans. As the presenting partner of the Sharks 2023-24 Schedule release on Tuesday, June 27, Southwest will host a sweepstakes for fans to submit in which visiting NHL city they most want to see the Sharks play. One lucky fan will win that desired trip including round-trip flights from Southwest Airlines, hotel accommodations, and tickets to the game.

Later this year, fans will also enjoy a fun and artistic video from the imaginative minds of the Sharks and Southwest Airlines creative teams called Trading Places where the Sharks will take on the roles of Southwest employees at San Jose Mineta International Airport. The video will feature various Sharks personalities handling the everyday responsibilities of Southwest employees such as checking bags, guiding in Southwest planes on the tarmac and more.

"All of these activations and engagement within our partnership with the Sharks underscores a commitment we've been making in the South Bay since beginning service in San Jose 30 years ago this summer," said Jennifer Bridie, Vice President of Marketing Communications & Strategy for Southwest Airlines. "Southwest exists, and our nearly 600-based SJC Employees serve to connect people to important and meaningful moments in their lives, and we do that through providing friendly, reliable, low-cost air travel."