The San Jose Sharks issued a formal apology after an offensive message referencing federal immigration enforcement appeared on the SAP Center scoreboard during the team’s Hispanic Heritage Night. The message, reading “SJ SHARKS FANS LOVE ICE !! GET ‘EM BOYZ !,” was shown during the first intermission of Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and immediately drew boos from fans in attendance.
Video of the display circulated online and was confirmed by CNN, which reported that several fans were stunned that a message could appear during an event intended to celebrate the Latino community. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has long been a source of fear for many immigrant families.
In a statement posted on X later that evening read: “During the first intermission of tonight’s game, an offensively worded message which had been externally submitted was inadvertently displayed on the in-arena scoreboard. Sharks Sports & Entertainment deeply regrets that this message, which does not meet our organization’s values, was not detected during our standard review process.”
The statement closed with, “The Sharks organization sincerely apologizes for this oversight, and we are actively working to determine the origin of the message.”
Sharks Sports & Entertainment, the ownership and management group, said it is investigating how the message was approved and who submitted it. The organization promised to strengthen its screening procedures to ensure that any future fan-submitted content is properly vetted.
In response to the criticism, Sharks team president Jonathan Becher posted a statement on X, saying it was “disappointing that this slipped through our internal controls, but even more disappointing that a fan somehow thinks this is acceptable,” according to Bay Area News Group. He added that the message was “definitely NEVER appropriate and completely not consistent with Teal Together.”
The incident took place on a night known as “Los Tiburones Night,” the franchise’s annual tribute to Hispanic culture and its fan base in the Bay Area. The Sharks have hosted the event for nine years, featuring Spanish-language elements, cultural performances, and themed merchandise.
The scoreboard message sparked criticism across social media, with many pointing out the disconnect between promoting inclusivity and allowing a statement that appeared to cheer on an agency associated with deportations.
The Sharks ultimately lost the game 3-0.