Barring a "last-minute rush at the box office" for tomorrow's game against the Oilers, the Sharks' streak of non-sellouts will reach ten consecutive home games, which would be "a first in the 22-year history" of SAP Center, according to Ross McKeon of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Not since early in the building’s inaugural season of '93-94 has the current streak of nine straight non-capacity crowds "been matched inside the Shark Tank." Sharks COO John Tortora said there is "some concern, but overall we’re not panicking." He added that he "points to 'a small shortfall' of season-ticket renewals as the main reason for the lack of sellouts after the team drew a capacity crowd of 17,562 for four of its first five home games, but none of the nine since." Tortora said that typically, season-ticket renewals drop 3-4% when the Sharks "don’t advance" in the prior season's playoffs and renew around 100% when they "at least reach the second round." McKeon writes last season's first-round loss to the Kings "left fans' emotions raw," and some "simply found other ways to spend disposable income" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/17).
