A 2,000-gallon saltwater aquarium -- with a dozen small sharks and about 30 other fish -- was unveiled Thursday as the "centerpiece of the new BMW Lounge at SAP Center," according to Sal Pizarro of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. The 6,000-square-foot VIP area is a $4M "overhaul of the Grill at SAP restaurant." Sharks COO John Tortora "expects it to provide an 'elevated experience' for fans." BMW Lounge tickets "include seats in the first three rows of the lower bowl and access to the high-end hangout with a full bar and food stations, with complimentary food and drink before and during games." Other perks include a "semi-private entrance, concierge service and comped parking -- and, of course, exclusive viewing of the shark tank." The 17-foot long aquarium is "filled with teal-tinged decor, with Sharks logos, hockey sticks and a goalie mask." There is even a "mini version of the Sharks head that the players skate out from every game." Designed and installed by Las Vegas-based Acrylic Tank Manufacturing, it will be "featured on an episode of the Animal Planet series, 'Tanked,' this fall." Fans with BMW Lounge tickets will get their "first chance to see it at the Sharks first preseason game Sept. 19" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 9/8). BMW's entitlement deal for the lounge area is part of a new deal with the club, as Bay Area BMW Centers will become the official luxury vehicle of the Sharks (Sharks).
