Behind the Scene
- A message reading “SJ Sharks Fans LOVE ICE !! Get’em Boyz !” flashed during Hispanic Heritage Night at the SAP Center, sparking outrage.
- The Sharks organization apologized, calling the post “offensively worded” and contrary to its values.
- The controversy comes amid rising tensions over ICE operations in California and San Jose’s new transparency rules for agents.
SANTA CLARA, CA – The San Jose Sharks are facing public backlash after a pro-ICE message appeared on the in-arena video board during Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins — an event meant to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night. The message, which read “SJ Sharks Fans LOVE ICE!! Get’em Boyz!” quickly drew condemnation from fans and community leaders in San Jose, a city where more than 30% of residents identify as Mexican or of Mexican descent.
In a statement posted to X following the incident, Sharks Sports & Entertainment said:
“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 Sharks organization sincerely apologizes for this oversight, and we are actively working to determine the origin of the message.”
The apology did little to quell outrage among local residents, many of whom viewed the message as tone-deaf given the timing. San Jose’s Hispanic population has long expressed concern over ICE activity in the Bay Area, particularly amid recent reports of immigration enforcement raids and rising deportation fears.
Public reaction online was swift. Community advocates and former season ticket holders blasted the organization for failing to prevent such a message from appearing, accusing the team of insensitivity and poor oversight. Several fans also called on the Sharks to partner with local immigrant-rights organizations to rebuild trust.
“The message wasn’t just a mistake — it reflected a lack of understanding about the community the Sharks call home,” one San Jose resident told USA Herald.
While the Sharks claim the post came from an “external submission,” the team has not specified how its content moderation system failed. In modern sports arenas, digital boards often accept pre-approved fan messages, corporate submissions, or automated social media feeds — any of which can be exploited if screening is inadequate. Sources close to the franchise indicated that the message likely bypassed a scheduled content review during intermission.
The controversy unfolds as ICE’s presence in California remains highly contested. In Los Angeles County, the Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency over federal enforcement operations, citing “a climate of fear” and adverse economic impacts. San Jose’s own leaders have echoed these concerns, noting disruptions to workplaces and schools whenever raids occur.
Sharks Sports & Entertainment has launched an internal investigation into how the message made it onto the scoreboard and said it will “strengthen content review procedures” for all future events. For now, the organization is in damage-control mode.
