The Sharks "acknowledged Friday a 'small dip' in season-ticket renewals after their epic playoff loss" to the Kings, but Sharks COO John Tortora said that it was "no greater than the drop-off following other recent first-round eliminations," according to David Pollack of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Tortora said that about 89% "signed on for another season." Pollack noted that is "above the NHL average and not far from the renewal rate when the team does advance in the post-season." Other events that "stirred the fan base -- additional talk of a rebuild, the decision not to bring back popular TV analyst Drew Remenda, the hiring of ice girls -- came after" the mid-June ticket renewal deadline had passed. Any fan concerns after tickets had been renewed "were dealt with on a case-by-case basis." Tortora said that the club will "begin the season with about the same number of seats available for single-game sales -- 3,000 -- because other fans did buy season tickets for the first time." He added that some were "motivated by early access to tickets for the outdoor game Feb. 21 at Levi's Stadium." Tortora said that the Sharks finished roughly $10M "in the red last season, an improvement over the previous two years but still not the sustainable business model sought" by Majority Owner Hasso Plattner, who "covered nearly all of that loss in what has become an annual cash call." Pollack notes the team is "hoping to improve its long-term TV deal" with Comcast. Tortora said while the club does not see the need for a new arena, it is important to work cooperatively with the city "to figure out a way to maintain and fund the necessary capital repairs that a 21-year-old facility needs" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/6).
