Bay Area Hockey Comes Out for Gay Fans

 The San Jose Sharks are joining the other Bay Area sports teams by hosting a gay appreciation night for hockey fans.

The Sharks' first LGBT night will be next Thursday as they take on the Dallas Stars at the HP Pavilion. A portion from the ticket sales will go toward the San Jose Pride festival.

Ken Arnold, Sharks senior director of communications, told theBay Area Reporterthat the event was not really a big deal for the team. Breaking with LGBT fan nights hosted by other teams that feature performances and appearances by local gay groups like the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, Thursday's game won't include anything other than a standard night of hockey.

"This is just another group coming to our game, buying a block of tickets to sit with each other," he said.