San Diego Theatres

What San Diego Theatres does

San Diego Theatres, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates, markets, and maintains two historic performing arts venues in downtown San Diego: the 2,967-seat Civic Theatre (opened 1965, the region's largest performing arts venue) and the 1,335-seat historic Balboa Theatre (opened 1924, listed on the National Register of Historic Places). The organization employs over 200 staff, generates more than $10 million in annual revenue, and serves over 500,000 patrons each year through programming that includes Broadway San Diego touring productions, San Diego Opera performances, concerts, comedy, film screenings, and owned-IP series such as Silent Movie Mondays and Retro Rewind. Revenue is diversified across ticket sales (the largest stream), facility fees on all tickets, food and beverage concessions (operated in partnership with Sodexo Live!), venue rentals, ticketing and professional services fees, and donations and grants including the Balboa Theatre Grant Fund supporting local nonprofit arts organizations.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for venue management: the Archtics ticketing platform underpins customer and ticket operations, Ticketmaster serves as the official authorized online ticket seller alongside the organization's own SanDiegoTheatres.org website, and Google Analytics supports web analytics. The Balboa Theatre's Wonder Morton Theatre Organ — one of only four in existence — is a domain-specialized asset used for live organ accompaniment during silent film screenings. Go-to-market is event-driven: the venues function as a platform for presenting organizations (Broadway San Diego, San Diego Opera, La Jolla Music Society, Goldenvoice, Live Nation, AEG Presents, AEG Nederlander, and others) that bring programmed content to the venues, with tickets distributed via direct website, Ticketmaster, in-person box offices, and corporate/educational venue rentals handled through the Programming Department. Marketing is executed through email newsletters, active multi-platform social media, earned media coverage, and a media partnership with KPBS.

Name

San Diego Theatres

Legal name

San Diego Theatres, Inc.

Website

https://sandiegotheatres.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

San Diego Theatres is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the 2,967-seat Civic Theatre and the 1,335-seat historic Balboa Theatre in San Diego, hosting Broadway, opera, concerts, and film programming and serving over 500,000 patrons annually through ticket sales, rentals, and concessions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue Management

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venues
• Theatre venue management
• Event hosting services
• Venue rental services
• Nonprofit arts management

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for events at both Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre through the organization's website, Ticketmaster, and in-person box offices.
2. Food and Beverage Sales: Concession revenues from food and beverage offerings, operated in partnership with Sodexo Live!, featuring locally sourced ingredients.
3. Venue Rental Fees: Revenue from renting the Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre to cultural, entertainment, educational, civic, corporate and other special events and activities.
4. Ticketing and Professional Services Fees: Fees collected for ticketing services and professional services provided to event producers.
5. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions and grant funding, including the Balboa Theatre Grant Fund which supports local nonprofit arts organizations.
6. Facility Fees: Facility fees on all event tickets utilized to assist in funding the operation and maintenance of the historic Balboa Theatre and the Civic Theatre, as well as capital repair, replacement and improvements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

San Diego Theatres is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that manages, markets, operates and maintains two historic San Diego performing arts venues—the 2,967-seat Civic Theatre and the 1,335-seat Balboa Theatre—hosting Broadway shows, opera, concerts, comedy and film programming produced and presented by partner organizations and offering ticketing, food and beverage concessions, and venue rentals to cultural, entertainment, corporate and civic clients.

Product overview

San Diego Theatres is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that manages two historic performing arts venues: the 2,967-seat Civic Theatre (opened 1965, downtown) and the 1,335-seat Balboa Theatre (opened 1924, Gaslamp Quarter). The organization generates over $10 million in annual revenues and serves more than 500,000 patrons through presentations including Broadway San Diego touring productions, San Diego Opera performances, concerts, and special programming series. Supporting programs include the Balboa Theatre Grant Fund (supporting local nonprofit arts organizations), the Silent Movie Mondays film series (featuring live organ accompaniment), and a Dining & Hospitality Partners network. Both venues are available for rental for events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Silent Movie Mondays: A recurring film series at the Balboa Theatre featuring silent films accompanied by live organ accompaniment.
• Broadway San Diego
• Retro Rewind

Products and services

• Civic Theatre The region's largest performing arts venue with 2,967 seats, located at 1100 Third Avenue in downtown San Diego. Opened in 1965, it serves as the primary home for Broadway San Diego touring productions, San Diego Opera performances, and concerts presented by La Jolla Music Society, Goldenvoice, Live Nation, AEG Presents, and AEG Nederlander Concerts.
• Balboa Theatre A historic 1,335-seat performing arts venue located at 868 Fourth Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, originally opened in 1924 as a vaudeville and cinema theatre. Renovated in 2008 with a $26.5 million restoration and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Features a unique tiled dome, ornate plaster fretwork, and the historic Wonder Morton Theatre Organ. It hosts San Diego Opera performances, concerts, film series (Silent Movie Mondays, Retro Rewind), and corporate and civic events.
• Venue Rental Services Both Civic Theatre (2,967 seats) and Balboa Theatre (1,335 seats) are available for rental for cultural, entertainment, educational, civic, corporate, and other special events and activities. Rental inquiries are handled by the Programming Department with detailed services and fees packets.
• Silent Movie Mondays A recurring film series at the Balboa Theatre featuring silent films accompanied by live organ performance on the historic Wonder Morton Theatre Organ (one of only four in existence). Currently in Season III with films such as Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Grandma's Boy, The General, and Laurel & Hardy Holiday Triple Feature. Patron research shows 92%+ rate experience as Good or Great and 65%+ have attended 4+ events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 500,000 patrons annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Sodexo Live!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSodexo Live! is the food and beverage partner for San Diego Theatres venues, providing concession offerings that include locally sourced ingredients and sustainable serviceware.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketmaster is the official authorized ticket seller for events at Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre alongside SanDiegoTheatres.org.
• KPBSmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPBS serves as media sponsor for the Silent Movie Mondays series, providing broadcast and digital media coverage for the cultural programming.
• San Diego International Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization participating in Silent Movie Mondays series programming.
• OakView Group (OVG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShown as a supporter and community partner of San Diego Theatres.
• Broadway San DiegocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary presenter of Broadway productions at Civic Theatre; San Diego Theatres serves as venue host for their events.
• San Diego OperacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents opera performances at Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre; San Diego Theatres serves as venue host.
• La Jolla Music SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents performances at Civic Theatre; San Diego Theatres serves as venue host.
• GoldenvoicemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents concerts and events at Civic Theatre.
• Live NationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents events at Balboa Theatre.
• AEG Nederlander ConcertsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents concerts and events at Civic Theatre.
• AEG PresentsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents events at Civic Theatre.
• Dining & Hospitality PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of restaurants near theatres offering special deals for San Diego Theatres patrons, including Werewolf American Pub, Osteria Cotto e Mangiato, Melting Pot, STK Steakhouse, and others.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• The Old Globe: 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional theatre in San Diego's Balboa Park operating multiple performance venues. Comparable as a nonprofit theater operator drawing from the same San Diego patron pool, donor base, and arts ecosystem.
• La Jolla Playhouse: La Jolla-based nonprofit resident theatre producing original works and hosting Tony-winning productions. Comparable as a San Diego-area nonprofit presenting organization competing for patrons, donors, and presenting partner share.
• San Diego Symphony Orchestra: Nonprofit performing arts organization presenting at the Jacobs Music Center in downtown San Diego. Overlapping subscriber base, downtown real estate, presenting partner network, and donor community make it the most adjacent regional peer.

Direct peers

• Nederlander Organization: Family-owned theater operator and live entertainment presenter running nine major US venues (including Pantages, Nederlander) and touring Broadway circuits. Directly comparable as a presenting-and-operating counterparty to many San Diego Theatres partners (Broadway San Diego).
• Broadway Across America: Largest theatrical touring presenter in North America with subscription Broadway series in 40+ cities. Direct peer as the type of presenting organization that brings touring Broadway productions like Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Hell's Kitchen to Civic Theatre.

Broad incumbents

• The Shubert Organization: Privately held owner and operator of 17 Broadway theaters. Comparable to San Diego Theatres as a private venue operator running historic, large-scale performance houses and contracting presenting partners to fill calendars.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts center operating multiple iconic New York venues. Comparable at the operating-model level as a multi-venue nonprofit venue operator with presenting partners, rental streams, and major capital reinvestment cycles.
• Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): 501(c)(3) nonprofit presenting and producing organization operating multiple theaters in Brooklyn. Comparable as a nonprofit multi-venue presenting organization focused on performing arts programming, rentals, and donor-supported operations.
• John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: National performing arts center (501(c)(3)) operating a single flagship venue with presenting, education, and rental programs. Comparable as a large-scale nonprofit venue operator reliant on donations, facility fees, and presenting partners.
• The Music Center (Los Angeles): 501(c)(3) nonprofit operator of four downtown Los Angeles performing arts venues including the Ahmanson and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Closest structural analog to San Diego Theatres as a multi-venue Southern California performing arts center.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com//channel/UChaDgvcmxC1Ph2aXRHsvowg
• Facebookfacebook.com/SDCivic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sandiego-theatres
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdtheatres
• Xx.com/sdcivic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Diego Theatres