New Deal Has Sharks At DCU Through 2016

The Worcester Sharks will have signed on for three more seasons on the ice at the DCU Center, the team and city officials announced today.

Speaking before a crowd gathered for a ceremony marking the beginning of a $23-million expansion and renovation of the arena, the president of the American Hockey League team, Michael A. Mudd, said, "It was a little over seven years ago that we all stood in this same exact location announcing the Sharks' arrival to Worcester … Recent building improvements, as well as the renovations that we see announced here today, reaffirms the city's strong support of the Sharks."

Mudd said the team had raised nearly $1 million for local charities since its arrival in 2006 and has been a community partner in programs involving reading and fitness.

The team, which marked the attendance of its one millionth fan on Oct. 28, is affiliated with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. Since the Sharks came to Worcester, 38 of the team's players have gone on to play for the Sharks parent team, with 11 on the San Jose roster.

Following the event, Mudd spoke about the decision to stay in Worcester.

"It was very easy, quite frankly. On our end, there was never really any concern," he said. "This is the perfect location to develop hockey players."

He said the close proximity to opponents in the league, such as the Providence Bruins and Springfield Falcons, means less travel time, fewer expenses and less strain on players.

The other side of that, however, is that the area isn't as ideal from a business standpoint. The same close proximity of opposing teams that makes Worcester beneficial as a hockey city also makes it more difficult from a business standpoint, Mudd said.

"We can't actually go sell tickets 20 minutes away. We have to get full buy-in from Worcester County because it's the only place to sell tickets to," he said. "Are we making money? No."

However, the Sharks report that they're seeing growing ticket sales. Group sales increased 31 percent from the 2010-2011 to the 2011-2012 seasons and total ticket sales were up 11 percent. The team reported an increase of 93 percent for group-ticket revenue and an improvement of individual ticket sales of 75 percent over the last two seasons. On average, the AHL saw a 5-percent increase in attendance over the 2010-11 season. Overall, the Sharks had a 37-percent growth in ticket revenue last season.

The team plays a 76-game regular season schedule and has 19 home games remaining.