The San Francisco Travel Association recently shared some info on the area’s recent and upcoming explosion of new and renovated venues of all kinds. Here’s a look at some of the highlights, from a stupendous stadium to handsome and historic theaters.
The Masonic in San Francisco
1111 California St.
3,300 capacity – Opens September 2014
Live Nation has announced the much-anticipated re-opening of the Masonic in San Francisco, following a multi-million dollar renovation project that has spanned the spring and summer of 2014. The Masonic will open its doors in September 2014 and feature a line-up this fall that includes Train, Daryl Hall & John Oates, The 1975, Old Crow Medicine Show, and others.
Located at the top of San Francisco's historic Nob Hill, the Masonic's re-opening will unveil a transformed space unlike any other of its size in the Bay Area. Renovations include a brand-new concert stage; state-of-the-art sound system tailored specifically to the room; VIP room for 300, with amazing views of Nob Hill, San Francisco, and the Bay; luxury VIP boxes with wait service and private restrooms, and a new general admission open floor with tiered levels, bringing the venue's general admission capacity to 3,300.
The renovation of the Masonic marks a landmark transformation for the historic San Francisco venue. With the significant upgrades and updates, and the change from a fixed seat venue to a flexible, multi-tiered venue, the uses of the Masonic have expanded—general admission concerts, seated concerts, private receptions, meetings and classroom-style events, or private dinners with entertainment on stage. The new Masonic is now a prime venue for concerts and special events alike, in one of San Francisco's premier neighborhoods, next door to some of the Bay Area's greatest hotels and restaurants.
Additionally, in partnership with the Nob Hill Association, Live Nation and the Masons of California have contributed $100,000 to the renovation of the Huntington Park children's playground, which will be the first of many contributions to come from both organizations towards the vitality of Huntington Park and the Nob Hill neighborhood.
For more information, visit http://sfmasonic.com. Booking contact: Tara Porter, 415-281-9227, SF.Events@LiveNation.com Media contact: Ashley Graham, 415-281-9203, AshleyGraham@LiveNation.com.
Levi’s Stadium
4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara
68,500 capacity – Booking for events now
Located south of San Francisco in the heart of Silicon Valley, Levi’s® Stadium is one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced buildings in all of sports and entertainment with more than 110,000 square feet of unparalleled event space, offering premium amenities and distinct experiences. Featuring unique spaces that begin with ornate field-level clubs with direct views to the 50-yard line and literally top-out on the rooftop terrace and garden with unbelievable views of downtown San Jose and the foothills that border Silicon Valley, Levi’s® Stadium is currently accepting event bookings of almost any size.
For more information, visit www.levisstadium.com/venue-rentals/about/. Booking contact: Sara Scher, 408-579-4413 specialevents@levisstadium.com. Media contact: Roger Hacker, 408-986-4890, roger.hacker@49ers.com.
James R. Herman Cruise Terminal
Pier 27
60,000+ square feet – Opens October 2014
On Sept. 18, 2014, Crown Princess will be the inaugural ship call at the new James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27. The terminal can accommodate vessels up to 1,200 feet long, carrying as many as 4,000 guests.
The structure, which was used as the venue for the 34th America’s Cup Village in 2013, will be adjacent to a new 2.5-acre public park known as Cruise Terminal Plaza.
On non-cruise days, the facility will be used for conferences, trade shows, and special events. It will have more than 60,000 square feet of shared-use space. Events for October 2014 and beyond are being booked now.
Pier 35, the existing cruise terminal, will also be available for special events in addition to being a secondary cruise terminal.
For information visit www.sfport.com. Event booking contact: John Oldenfendt, Metro Cruise Services, John.Metro@comcast.net. Media contact: Renée Dunn Martin, Port of San Francisco, 415-274-0488, renee.martin@sfport.com.
Presidio Officers Club
50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio
2,955 square feet – Opens September 2014
The Presidio Officers’ Club is San Francisco’s most historic building, where military leaders once gathered with their colleagues and families. This remarkable venue has been transformed and will soon welcome new generations to experience and enjoy the magic of the park.
The beloved venue will feature two elegant event spaces for celebrations and meetings. The second-floor Ortega Ballroom, with 2,955 square feet, will be a premier celebration venue with stunning and expansive San Francisco Bay views, an outdoor deck, and high ceilings. Additionally, the outdoor Hardie Courtyard on the ground floor will be a perfect pre-event location.
The building will also be enlivened with a destination restaurant, performances and cultural events, and exhibits that illustrate the Presidio’s vital relationship to San Francisco and the world.
The venues in the Officers’ Club are taking bookings now for events as early as September, 2014.
For more information, visit http://www.presidio.gov/venues/Pages/presidio-officers-club-venue.aspx. Booking contact: Presidio Event Venues, 415-561-5444, events@presidiotrust.gov. Media contact: Dana Polk, Presidio Trust, 415-561-2710, dpolk@presidiotrust.gov.
Strand Theater
1127 Market St.
285 seats + 120 seats – Opens Fall of 2014
Located in the revitalized Central Market Street corridor, The Strand Theater will feature a 285-seat theater, a 120-seat black box theater, and a café, and is a cutting-edge addition to A.C.T.’s theaters in San Francisco, which include The Geary Theater and The Costume Shop Theater, an intimate black-box performance space located near The Strand Theater. It originally opened in 1917 and has lived through various incarnations before being shuttered in 2003. The Strand Theater will open again in early 2015.
For more information, visit www.act-sf.org/home/about/press_room/strand_theater_asset_viewer.html. Booking Contact: Amy Hand, 415-439-2415, ahand@act-sf.org. Media contact: Kevin Kopjak, Charles Zukow Associates, 415-296-0677, kevink@charleszukow.com.
Nourse Theater
201-299 Hayes St
1,600 seats – Now available
Built in 1927, the Nourse Theater is a landmark venue located in the heart of San Francisco’s Performing Arts District. The hall has been closed to the public for more than 30 years. In 2012, City Arts & Lectures began a restoration project and has brought the theater back to public use.
The hall features excellent acoustics, a well-designed layout offering unobstructed views throughout the orchestra and balcony, and original architectural details.
City Arts & Lectures has refurbished the 1,600 seat hall, installing state of the art lighting and high quality sound equipment including Meyer speakers, new curtains, plush upholstered seats, newly decorated green room and dressing rooms.
For more information, visit http://www.cityarts.net/nourse. Booking and media contact: Holly Mulder-Wollan, 415-563-2463, nourse@cityarts.net.
Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Ave.
900 seats – Targeted Re-opening September 2015
The Herbst Theatre is part of the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, located across the street from City Hall on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. The theatre is decorated with eight grand murals, painted by Frank Brangwyn as commissioned works for San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Each set of two paintings represents one of the classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The 900-seat recital hall is targeted to re-open September 1, 2015 after completion of seismic retrofitting and upgrades.
For more information, visit http://sfwmpac.org/herbst/ht_renthall.html. Booking contact: Stephanie Smith, 415-621-6600, stephanie.smith@sfgov.org. Media contact: John Caldon, 415-554-6321, john.caldon@sfgov.org.
The Village
969 Market St.
17,000 square feet – Opened August 1
The Village is a 17,000 square foot event venue with more than 1,300 person capacity spread over three floors, ideal for conferences, product launches, activations, immersions and more. Offering leading edge embedded events solutions for immersive video mapping, interactive technologies and video production, the Village seeks to host and produce large scale influential events that create unique memorable experiences.
For more information, visit http://969market.com. Booking contact: go@969market.com Media contact: Elaine Jennings, elaine@969market.com
The San Francisco Travel Association is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the city as a leisure, convention and business travel destination. With some 1,500 partner businesses, San Francisco Travel is one of the largest membership-based tourism promotion agencies in the country. Tourism, San Francisco's largest industry, generates in excess of $9.38 billion annually for the local economy and supports more than 76,800 jobs.
Pictured: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara