The San Jose Sharks professional hockey franchise represents the San Francisco Bay Area in the National Hockey League, having joined as an expansion team in 1991. Despite some success in reaching the playoffs the past several years, fans are still waiting for an appearance in the Stanley Cup finals. The team plays host at HP Pavilion, affectionately known as "The Shark Tank." George and Gordon Gund, former owners of the Cleveland Cavaliers, were originally awarded the NHL franchise; Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, an investment group led by veteran sports executive Greg Jamison, has owned the team since 2002.

Famous Uncle Al's Hot Dogs & Grille operates a chain of about 10 franchised quick-service restaurants in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, and Virginia that specialize in hot dogs and sausage sandwiches. The eateries also serve a variety of Italian-style sandwiches, burgers, and fries. CEO Paul Esposito and president Dean Valentino together control more than 30% of the company.

Gilroy Gardens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. After selling their Nob Hill Foods supermarkets, the Park was founded by Michael and Claudia Bonfante and is designed to educate guests and to foster a greater appreciation of horticulture. The Park features over forty rides, attractions, educational exhibits and majestic gardens. The goal is to return a percentage of annual revenues back into beautification and parks projects throughout neighboring communities. The Board of Directors is specifically challenged to find public works projects to initiate and/or support those that follow the ideals of preservation, stewardship and ecology for which the theme park stands. At this time the Park is not set up for individual grants.

Shepherd's pie, traveling minstrels, and the joust ... ahhhh, life in 16th-century England (without, of course, the plague and other minor nuisances). Renaissance Entertainment operates three Renaissance Faires, which re-create 16th-century English villages, complete with craft shops, food and drink, and live entertainment. The events, which are held in California, New York, and Wisconsin, typically last between six and nine weekends a year and attract half a million visitors. Forest of Fear, a seasonal haunted forest in New York, is also part of the Renaissance Entertainment kingdom.

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 18 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 500 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

This Jazz has its roots in the Big Easy but now it entertains fans in the Beehive State. Jazz Basketball Investors owns and operates the Utah Jazz professional basketball franchise, which joined the National Basketball Association in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz. Since moving to Salt Lake City in 1979, the team has made two NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998 (losing both times to the Chicago Bulls). The Jazz plays host to loyal fans at Salt Lake's EnergySolutions Arena. The family of Larry Miller (Larry H. Miller Group) has owned the team since 1985.Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., owns the Utah Jazz, one of the most successful franchises in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Led since the late 1980s by forward Karl Malone and point guard John Stockton, the Jazz have appeared in the NBA playoffs every year since the 1985-86 season, including two trips to the finals in 1996-97 and 1997-98. More remarkably, the Jazz have consistently been among the NBA's attendance leaders, despite the fact that Salt Lake City is one of the smallest markets in the league. In 2001-2002 Utah drew 766,108 spectators, tenth in the NBA and better than much larger cities such as Boston, Detroit, and Atlanta. As the 2003-2004 season got underway, the team's popularity showed little sign of waning despite a rebuilding program anticipating the retirements of Malone and Stockton.

Sandals Resorts International was founded in 1981. Sandals Resorts International owns and operates resorts in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. Its resorts offer various amenities, including rooms and suites, restaurants and bars, and a spa, as well as provides personal butter services, offshore island adventure, adventure tours, scuba diving, water sports, golf, land sports, airport transfers, gourmet dining, and nightly entertainment services. Sandals Resorts company’s resorts also provide various packages for weddings, honeymoons, vow renewals, and wedding groups. In addition, it offers beaches backpacks, bucket hats, women’s sandals, and wedding items online.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (CRW) has a lot of Friday's for which to be thankful. A leader in full-service restaurants, the company operates and franchises more than 900 T.G.I. Friday's casual dining locations across the US and in about 60 other countries. The restaurant chain offers a menu featuring beef, chicken, and seafood entrees along with a selection of popular appetizers. About 300 T.G.I. Friday's units are company-owned while the rest are franchised. The company also operates Pick Up Stix, an Asian-themed fast-casual chain with more than 90 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. CRW is a subsidiary of travel and leisure conglomerate Carlson Companies.

Stoke City Football Club is one of the oldest football (soccer) clubs in England. Founded in 1863, the team turned professional in 1885. The club's home ground, the Britannia Stadium seats approximately 28,000 spectators. Previously the team played at the Victoria Ground, its home since 1878. Stoke City FC, nicknamed the Potters, hired skipper Tony Pulis to manage the club in 2002. The club currently competes in the English Football League Championship (formerly known as Division 1). Stoke City's past players include legendary England goalkeeper Gordon Banks as well as the great Stanley Matthews.

Pastry fans might like to go a lap with this company. Great Circle Family Foods is a franchisee of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, with about a dozen stores operating in Southern California. The shops are popular for their raised, glazed doughnuts that are served fresh and hot out of the fryer; the chain's menu also features cake and filled doughnuts, crullers, and fritters, as well as hot coffee and other beverages. CEO Roger Glickman and his father-in-law Richard Reinis started the company in 1998. Great Circle Family Foods exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009.

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