Cow Palace

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Lore & Background

The San Jose Sharks of the NHL played at the Cow Palace from 1991 to 1993 before the completion of their new home, the San Jose Arena. From 1991 to 1993, the Sharks sold out every game played at the building. San Jose lost their first game at the Cow Palace to the Vancouver Canucks 5–2 on October 5, 1991. Wayne Presley scored the first Sharks goal at the arena. Three nights later, San Jose won their first game in franchise history there, a 4–3 win over the Calgary Flames. The Sharks' second season in the Cow Palace included a 17-game losing streak and a league record 71 losses. The Sharks ended their run at the Cow Palace at the conclusion of the 1992–93 season with a 3–2 loss to eventual Campbell Conference champion Los Angeles on April 10, 1993. The team moved to the new San Jose Arena (now the SAP Center) to start 1993–94 after going 22–56–4 at their first home. At the Cow Palace, the Sharks recorded the franchise's first win, shutout (Artūrs Irbe) and hat trick (Rob Gaudreau). The team also introduced their mascot, S.J. Sharkie, on the Cow Palace ice in mid-1992 when he climbed out of the front of a Zamboni. He later bungee-jumped from the rafters near the end of the first season.

In Their Own Story

October 1991. The air inside the Cow Palace hummed with nervous energy, smelling faintly of sawdust and fresh ice. A small but vocal crowd pressed against the boards, waiting for history. He snapped a wrist shot past the Oilers' netminder, the puck striking the backboards with a crack that echoed through the rafters. That sound wasn't just a goal; it was the birth cry of a franchise. For two seasons, this barn held the dreams of a city before the lights dimmed for good and the team moved to their forever home.

Reader's Guide

The arena seats 11,089 for ice hockey. It is located in Daly City, California, on the city's northern boundary with San Francisco. The venue first opened in 1941.

Did You Know?

• The Sharks' first game at the Cow Palace was a 5–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 1991.
• Wayne Presley scored the first Sharks goal at the Cow Palace.
• The Sharks played at the Cow Palace for two full seasons (1991–92 and 1992–93), not three.
• The Sharks recorded their first franchise win, shutout (Artūrs Irbe), and hat trick (Rob Gaudreau) at the Cow Palace.

Architectural Origins and Naming

Originally conceived as the California State Livestock Pavilion, this iconic indoor arena officially opened its doors in April 1941 within Daly City, straddling the northern boundary with San Francisco. The concept was sparked by the success of a similar pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. However, the venue's enduring moniker emerged from political satire rather than agricultural pride. As early as May 1933, San Francisco Supervisor Franck Havenner mockingly labeled the ambitious project a "palace for cows." A clever headline writer subsequently inverted this derisive phrase, coining the term "Cow Palace," which stuck permanently. The facility's unique geography means that while the main structure sits in Daly City, a portion of its upper parking lot technically falls within San Francisco limits due to the city boundary cutting through the property. This distinctive location has served as a backdrop for everything from livestock shows to major political conventions since its completion.

A Hub for Professional Sports

For decades, the Cow Palace stood as a premier destination for professional athletics across multiple disciplines. It is perhaps best known in basketball history as the home of the San Francisco Warriors from 1962 to 1964 and again between 1966 and 1971, hosting high-stakes games including portions of the 1964 and 1967 NBA Finals. The arena also served a critical role during the 1975 NBA Finals when the Warriors temporarily returned to host championship games because their usual Oakland venue was occupied by an Ice Follies performance. Beyond basketball, the venue hosted the San Jose Sharks of the NHL from 1991 to 1993, selling out every game before they moved to a new arena. It also featured indoor soccer teams like the San Francisco Fog and the Golden Bay Earthquakes, who won the 1975 NASL indoor championship here. Additionally, it was a major stop for professional boxing in the early 1980s, featuring legends such as Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson.

Cultural Events and Political Significance

Beyond athletics, the Cow Palace has been a central stage for significant cultural gatherings and political milestones throughout California history. The arena famously hosted the Republican National Convention twice, in both 1956 and 1964, cementing its role as a venue for major national discourse. During World War II, the facility was repurposed to process soldiers bound for the Pacific Theater before returning to civilian use. Its cultural calendar has long included the annual Grand National Rodeo and Horse & Stock Show, which began in 1941 with only a brief interruption during the war years. The venue also became a staple for family entertainment, hosting Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1956 to 1999, alongside modern attractions like Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, and Cirque du Soleil. In recent years, it has continued to draw crowds with trade shows, conventions, and concerts, maintaining its status as a versatile events center.

Modern Challenges and Future Uncertainty

In the twenty-first century, the Cow Palace faced significant uncertainty regarding its future use and ownership. By spring 2008, State Senator Leland Yee introduced legislation to allow Daly City to purchase the facility from the state's Division of Fairs and Expositions with plans to redevelop the site into housing, amenities, or a school. This proposal sparked intense opposition from venue users and citizens across California, leading Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto the sale in September 2008. Following this political setback, the board attempted to secure a long-term future through exclusive negotiations for a 60-year lease with Cypress Equities to develop the surrounding acres, but these talks eventually stalled. Subsequent negotiations with a Marin County-based developer began in early 2010 as the arena sought new management strategies. Despite these challenges and the lack of progress on redevelopment, the Cow Palace remains an active venue, continuing to host its traditional rodeo and various other events while navigating the complexities of modern urban development.

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