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Introduction and Disclaimer - PLEASE
READ THIS FIRST IN ITS ENTIRETY!Introduction and Disclaimer
The H.P. Pavilion at San Jose - formerly known as the Compaq Center At San Jose, and formerly known as the San Jose Arena - opened in 1993 to serve as San Jose's sports and entertainment venue. Its primary tenant is the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks, who play from the fall until spring of the following year. Because of this, fans of the Sharks often refer to the arena as the "Shark Tank."
Over the years, the "Tank" has hosted the Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey CircU.S. , figure skating and gymnastics tours, mU.S. ical concerts, and numerous "professional" wrestling events shown on cable and pay-per-view television.
In addition to serving as the Sharks' home, the H.P. Pavilion at San Jose is also the home of the SAP Open men's tennis tournament held every February.
Famous events held at the arena throughout its history:
In January 2012, the H.P. Pavilion will once again host the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. In late June and early July 2010, the H.P. Pavilion will host the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for gymnastics.
This guide was created as a public service from the Silicon Valley Transit Users, a grassroots group of citizens concerned about mass transit in Silicon Valley. We are not affiliated with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any form whatsoever. VTA has not endorsed this guide in any way whatsoever. For specific information about VTA services, system maps, and fares, please contact VTA at (408)321-2300.
We are not responsible for anything that occurs on VTA property or any public property as a result of use of this guide. Special thanks goes to Gary Richards of the San Jose Mercury News for providing additional VTA bus information for the guide.
The purpose of this guide is to give you additional Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and regional public transit alternatives to reach the H.P. Pavilion. These alternatives let you beat the high costs of gasoline and hassles of parking near or at the Pavilion. As a result, you save money to dine in downtown San Jose while you cheer your favorite team or player to victory - or buy more concessions at H.P. Pavilion events. This guide can also save you from the high costs of gasoline while beating traffic gridlock to and from events at the H.P. Pavilion.
Before you board any VTA bus to and from the H. P. Pavilion, make sure to have the exact total fare ready for you (or your traveling party) when you board. It is best to buy a day pass (or day passes if you are not traveling alone) if you are taking a local bus to the H.P. Pavilion. VTA buses and their drivers cannot make change. If you have never taken a VTA bus or light rail train before, here are some basic rules of etiquette aboard VTA buses.
If you are using VTA light rail to travel to and from the H.P. Pavilion, and if you are transferring from a VTA or other bus line, it is best to purchase a day pass from the ticket vending machines at the platform of the station you are boarding from. Make sure to have the exact total fare ready for the vending machines, as they do not make change. Light rail operators do not sell tickets nor will they make change. If you are caught by any light rail fare inspector without valid fare, you can be fined!
Here
is a map of the area surrounding the H.P. Pavilion. Details
are
below:
1. San Jose Diridon Station. This is where Amtrak's Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, and connecting Amtrak Thruway buses throughout California stop. It is also the stop for Caltrain and the Altamont Commuter Express (which only runs during weekday peak commuter hours only). The Highway 17 Express Bus from Santa Cruz County stops here as well. VTA's 68 local and 168 express bus lines to Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy start here. VTA's 180 and 181 express bus lines to the Fremont BART station starts here. Other local buses like VTA's 63, 64, and 65 buses from Willow Glen and Almaden Valley also stop here.
2. Eastbound bus stop for VTA's Line 22 bus to Eastridge Mall. Also serves VTA Rapid Bus 522 to Eastridge Mall in East San Jose.
3. Westbound bus stop for VTA's Line 22 and 522 Rapid to Palo Alto via The Alameda and El Camino Real. Both buses can take you to the Santa Clara Transit Center, a good park & ride spot that's a good alternative for the high cost of parking near the H.P. Pavilion. The stop is right in front of the W. Santa Clara St. exit of the arena near section 209-210/109-110.
VTA's 22 bus line passes by the H.P. Pavilion on W. Santa Clara Street. Starting at Eastridge Mall, the 22 bus line serves the heart of East San Jose along King Road and then East Santa Clara Street. The 22 bus line makes all local stops along its route, and it runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Rapid bus service from throughout Santa Clara County serves the H.P. Pavilion. (SVTRU) |
Both the 22 and the 522 buses stop in front of and across the street from the H.P. Pavilion. In addition, the 63, 64 and 65 buses from the Almaden Valley section of San Jose stop at San Jose Diridon Station - across the street from H.P. Pavilion.
Live in the Alum Rock area of San Jose? VTA's 64 bus line serves the McKee light rail station via McKee Avenue in East San Jose. The 64 bus line also links Willow Glen to the H.P. Pavilion for events.
Coming from the Almaden Valley? You can take VTA's 65 bus line to the H.P. Pavilion.
Live in South San Jose ? One alternative for attending arena events using public transit is to drive to any VTA light rail station "park-and-ride" lots at the Tamien or Oholne-Chynoweth light rail stations. There, take any northbound light rail train to Santa Clara Street station and walk about 4-5 blocks down West Santa Clara Street to the H.P. Pavilion.
As with any "park-and-ride" lot, you are parking at your own risk. Make sure to lock your car and take all valuables with you before boarding the light rail train.
Try to have the exact total fare ready for the vending machines if possible, to speed your purchase. The light rail ticket vending machines do NOT take credit or debit cards but will make change in coins (including dollar coins) only. Light rail operators do not sell tickets nor will they make change. If you are caught by any light rail fare inspector without valid fare, you can be fined!
Sharks fans and other H.P. Pavilion event attendees can obtain VTA bus and light rail information such as schedules, maps, and fares online at http://www.vta.org/ or by calling VTA at (408)321-2300.
From San Francisco and the Peninsula
For all Sharks games and other H.P. Pavilion events, Caltrain provides commuter rail service to San Jose Diridon Station - across the street from the H.P. Pavilion on Cahill Street. The last train leaves San Jose Diridon station at 10:30pm or 15 minutes after the Sharks game ends, whichever is later. Since Caltrain is a proof-of-payment system (no tickets sold aboard trains), make sure to buy the proper ticket in advance at the train station you are traveling from, before boarding your train.
All Caltrain stations have vending machines which you can buy tickets from. The ticket vending machines can make change. They also accept all major credit and debit cards. WARNING: If you are caught without a valid ticket aboard Caltrain, you will be cited and fined!
As an alternate to Caltrain, Sharks fans can take a westbound VTA 22 bus in front of the H.P. Pavilion to the Palo Alto Transit Center. There, you can catch the SamTrans 390 bus up the Peninsula along El Camino Real to the Daly City BART station.
For those really late evening games or H.P. Pavilion events that run long, Sharks fans can take the 22 bus in front of H.P. Pavilion to Palo Alto Caltrain Station. There, they can transfer to the SamTrans 397 bus which runs all the way to San Francisco.
Be advised that for any SamTrans bus ending in San Francisco (KX or 397) you will need to pay $4.00 if you get off either bus in San Francisco or at San Francisco International Airport.
Sharks fans and other H.P. Pavilion attendees can obtain Caltrain and SamTrans schedule and fare information by visiting their respective web sites at http://www.caltrain.com/ and http://www.samtrans.com/ respectively. Alternately, Caltrain and SamTrans can be reached by calling 1(800)660-4287.
From Milpitas and the East Bay
From the Fremont BART station, VTA's 180 Express Bus ends right across the street from the H.P. Pavilion, at the San Jose Diridon station. Both buses typically connect with the last BART train leaving Fremont.. Travel time is 45-60 minutes depending on traffic along Interstates 880 and 680. As of September 10, 2007, there is a $1 daily fee to park at the Fremont BART station.
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Express bus service from Fremont and Milpitas ends right next to the H.P. Pavilion (SVTRU) |
As of January 14, 2008, a new express bus (the 181) directly links the H.P. Pavilion area with Fremont BART station via Interstate 880, Mission Boulevard, and Interstate 680. The 181 does NOT stop at the Great Mall. Be advised that the 181 only runs during the weekday morning and evening rush hour periods
Another alternative to the H.P. Pavilion is by boarding VTA light rail at the Great Mall/Main stop. FREE parking is available at this light rail station. Take any train marked "Santa Teresa" to downtown San Jose and get off at the Santa Clara Street stop. From there, you can transfer at 1st and Santa Clara Street to either a VTA 22/522 (Menlo Park/Palo Alto) or 64 (Almaden LRT Station) bus to the H. P. Pavilion, or walk 4-5 blocks down W. Santa Clara Street to the H.P. Pavilion. At the Great Mall/Main light rail station, make sure to buy a day pass for each passenger in your group at the light rail station and keep it with you as proof of fare on light rail and the bus. You will be cited if you are caught on light rail without a valid proof of fare.
Sharks fans and other arena attendees can obtain VTA information such as schedules, maps, and fares online at http://www.vta.org/ or by calling VTA at (408)321-2300.
From the South County (South San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy)
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VTA's 68 bus line from Gilroy and Morgan Hill ends right near H.P. Pavilion. (SVTRU) |
A common mistake many travellers to H.P. Pavilion make is that you have to transfer to light rail at Santa Teresa to reach downtown San Jose and transfer to another bus to reach the H.P. Pavilion. With the 68 bus ending right across the street from the H.P. Pavilion at Diridon station, you do not have to transfer to light rail at Santa Teresa and then transfer again to a VTA 22/522 or 64 bus to reach the H.P. Pavilion. Get off the 68 bus at the Diridon station (end of the line), and walk the short distance to H. P. Pavilion.
Depending on where you board, the trip from the South County to the H.P. Pavilion lasts between 60-90 minutes. Plan on bringing along something to read or listen during the ride to and from the H.P. Pavilion. On the way home, board the 68 bus in the center set of bus lanes at the San Jose Diridon Station. On weekdays and weekends, the last bus to Gilroy leaves San Jose Diridon station at 11:59pm and 11:58pm respectively.
Sharks fans and other arena attendees can obtain information on Line 68 schedules, maps, and fares online from VTA by visiting their website or by calling them at (408)321-2300.
From Campbell/Los Gatos and the West Valley (Monte Sereno, Cupertino)
Sharks fans and other H.P. Pavilion event attendees in the West Valley can now use VTA's Vasona (Mountain View-Winchester) light rail line to get to the arena. Get off at the Diridon or San Fernando stations and you will be within walking distance of the H.P. Pavilion. The line starts at Winchester (south of downtown Campbell on Winchester Boulevard) and goes through Campbell and southwestern San Jose to serve the Bascom, Fruitdale, and Race street areas in San Jose. Get off the light rail train at either Diridon station or San Fernando station and walk about two (2) blocks north to the H.P. Pavilion.
Some notes on using light rail:
On weekdays: trains heading north (to Mountain View) arrive at Diridon and San Fernando Stations every 15 minutes from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and depart every 30 minutes from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The last train from Diridon is at 12:16 but this train only goes as far as Civic Center Station. Trains heading southbound to Winchester from Diridon and San Fernando Stations every 15 minutes from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and departing every 30 minutes from 8:00 p.m. until 11:43 from the San Fernando Station and 11:49 from Diridon Station.
On weekends: trains from Winchester to Mountain View arrive and depart the Diridon and San Fernando Stations every 30 minutes from 5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. with the last train leaving Diridon at 12:16 and again this train is only going to Civic Center station. Weekend trains, Mountain View to Winchester arrive and depart from Diridon and San Fernando Stations, every 30 minutes from 5:00 p.m. to 11:43 p.m. and 11:49pm is the last train leaving from Diridon Station.
For San Jose Sharks home games and playoff games, VTA will run a special train from San Fernando station to Winchester, making all local stops. The special train leaves San Fernando 15 minutes after the game ends. Contact VTA at (408)321-2300 to verify the special train will run at whatever Sharks home game you are attending this season.
Coming from Cupertino? Ride VTA's 23 bus line to downtown San Jose and get off at Santa Clara light rail station. There, transfer at 1st and Santa Clara streets and transfer to a 22 or 522 bus (going to Palo Alto or Menlo Park) or 64 bus to Almaden light rail station, and get off in front of the H. P. Pavilion at Santa Clara and Delmas. Alternately, you can walk the 4-5 blocks down West Santa Clara Street to the H.P. Pavilion.
Another alternative for the 23 bus line from Cupertino: get off at Bird and West San Carlos Streets (the first bus stop after the railroad overpass). Walk 3 long blocks north on Bird street until you reach the H.P. Pavilion.
Call VTA at (408)321-2300 for more information on the Vasona light rail line, VTA's 23 bus line, and their respective schedules.
For weekday and weeknight games and other arena events, Santa Cruz METRO provides the Highway 17 Express bus service from San Jose Diridon station (across the street from the H.P. Pavilion) to the Scotts Valley Transit Center, and downtown Santa Cruz (Highway 1 and Soquel Drive). For weeknight arena events, the last bus leaves San Jose Diridon station at 10:30pm; for weekend arena events, the last bus leaves San Jose Diridon station at 10:15pm.
Sharks fans and other H.P. Pavilion event attendees in Santa Cruz County can score information on the Highway 17 Express by calling Santa Cruz METRO at (831)425-8600 or by visiting their web site at http://www.scmtd.com/.
Park and Ride Tips for Driving
Santa Clara Caltrain Station/Transit Center
If you north or west of Santa Clara or in the East Bay and you must drive, the Santa Clara Caltrain station/transit center is a decent - and cheap - place to park your automobile. Parking is $2.00 for 24 hours. You can obtain a validation coupon (which you must display on your windshield) at the Caltrain ticket vending machines at the train platform shelters.
From the Santa Clara Transit Center, you can take either VTA's Line 22 bus to Eastridge (which runs 24 hours/day) or the 522 Rapid bus to Eastridge every day except Sundays. Both buses drop you off right across the street from the H.P. Pavilion on W. Santa Clara Street between Cahill and Montgomery Streets. The latest fares for VTA buses can be found on VTA's web site. Make sure to lock your automobile and take all valuables with you (including your event ticket[s]!) before boarding the bus!
DISCLAIMER: SVTRU is not responsible for anything lost or stolen in the parking lots nor lost change in the vending machines. Please contact Caltrain at 1(800)660-4287 for further information on parking at Santa Clara's Caltrain station. Call the information number listed on the parking validation vending machines if you have problems using the machines. For the latest information on VTA schedules, maps, and fares, contact VTA via their web site or at (408)321-2300. As with all information in this guide, it is being presented as a public service.
Since the 22 and 522 buses stop across from H.P. Pavilion's main entrance on W. Santa Clara Street, you have already saved time and stress in finding a parking spot. When the arena event ends, the 22 bus stops right in front of the H.P. Pavilion's West Santa Clara Street exit (near section 209-210/109-110). In the 10 to 15 minutes riding the 22 back to Santa Clara's Caltrain station and transit center, you are not fighting automobile traffic leaving the parking lots - saving you stress, fuel, and money.
For your added safety and security, Santa Clara's Caltrain station/transit center is right next to the Santa Clara police station.
Here's how to get to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station and Transit Center from the East Bay:
Take Interstate 880 South past Mineta San Jose International Airport to The Alameda/Highway 82 exit. At the top of the ramp, make a right turn. (You are now on The Alameda.) Stay in the right lane as you pass the second light after I-880 where you will curve to the right on the main stretch of road (which is at this point El Camino Real - also known as State Highway 82). You should have Santa Clara University's athletic fields on your left. The second light after the right curve will be Railroad Ave. on the right, with the entrance to Santa Clara University on the left. Make a right turn onto Railroad Ave (you will see a brown railroad building in front of you) which will curve left. Park in the Caltrain parking lots on your left or your right.
From San Francisco, the North Bay, and the Peninsula
(us101
side)
Take us101 southbound to Interstate 880 southbound
(Santa Cruz). Follow directions for coming from the East Bay above.
From Saratoga and the Western (Interstate 280) side
of the
Peninsula
Take Interstate 280 eastbound to Interstate 880
northbound (Oakland). From Interstate 880 northbound, get off at the
second exit (The Alameda) and make a left turn at the end of the
ramp. Follow the instructions for the East Bay from there.
From Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Santa
Cruz
County
Take Highway 17 northbound to the Camden Avenue/San
Tomas Expressway exit. Stay in either of the two left lanes when you
exit, and make a left turn at the light. Go under Highway 17 and get
off at the 2nd exit you encounter (Winchester Boulevard. NORTH). Go
down the ramp onto Winchester Boulevard and at the 2nd light, make a
right turn into the Winchester Park & Ride Lot .
From the South (South San Jose to Gilroy to
Salinas/Monterey
and beyond)
Take us101 northbound (San Francisco) to
Highway 85 northbound to Highway 17 northbound. Follow directions
above Campbell and Los Gatos.
Make sure to buy your light rail tickets at the ticket vending machines on the station platform. You will be cited if you are caught on light rail without a valid proof of fare.
From the South (Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno,
and Santa
Cruz County)
On Highway 17 northbound, get off at the Hamilton
Avenue exit. Stay in the left lane and make a left at the top of the
ramp (Creekside Way). Make an immediate right at the light (which
will be Hamilton Avenue). Once on Hamilton, immediately go to the
left lane and make a left at the first light (which will be Bascom
Avenue). The Bascom light rail station with park and ride lot will be
on your right, at the railroad tracks. Park your car there and then
take any light rail train labeled "Mountain View" or "Civic
Center" to either the Diridon on San Fernando light rail station
and walk two (2) short blocks north to the H.P. Pavilion.
Make sure to buy your light rail tickets at the ticket vending machines on the station platform. You will be cited if you are caught on light rail without a valid proof of fare.
DISCLAIMER: We are not responsible for anything lost or stolen in the parking lots nor lost change in the vending machines. Please contact Caltrain at 1(800)660-4287 for further information on parking at Santa Clara's Caltrain station. Call the information number listed on the parking validation vending machines if you have problems using the machines. For the latest information on VTA schedules, maps, and fares, contact VTA via their web site or at (408)321-2300. As with all information in this guide, it is being presented as a public service.
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