Cannon Center For The Performing Arts

What Cannon Center For The Performing Arts does

The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts is a 2,051-seat multi-purpose performing arts venue located in Downtown Memphis at 255 N. Main St., adjacent to the Renasant Convention Center, the 600-room Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel, and the 266 N. Front St. parking garage. Opened in 2003 on the site of the former Ellis Auditorium (1919-1996), the venue was purpose-built to exacting acoustic standards and features a Broadway-sized stage (121-foot width, 55-by-40-foot proscenium opening), an 87-line counterweight rigging fly system, 400-amp stage power infrastructure, and integrated AV capabilities provided by in-house partner Prestige AV & Creative Services. Back-of-house facilities include multiple star dressing rooms, chorus rooms, wardrobe area, VIP lounge, production offices, and catering capabilities of 40-60 person occupancy.

The venue generates revenue across four streams: ticket sales through Ticketmaster and the on-site Box Office, venue rental for public ticketed shows and private events, parking fees of $11.41 per vehicle via Premium Parking, and exclusive front-of-house food and beverage services operated by The RK Group. Its programming spans symphony, ballet, opera, pop and jazz concerts, touring Broadway, comedy, children's theater, and convention general sessions. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra has been the resident ensemble since 2003, with collaborative programming partners including Opera Memphis and a charitable affiliation with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The venue is managed by Memphis Management Group as the managing partner alongside the Renasant Convention Center, with the City of Memphis appearing among listed partners, suggesting municipal ownership of the underlying facility. Distribution runs through Ticketmaster for ticketing, the on-site Box Office, Premium Parking for parking, and direct sales for venue rentals via a booking request form. Marketing is concentrated on the venue's own website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn), email newsletter, and partnerships with Memphis Travel and Memphis Tourism. The venue is privately managed, employs 11-50 staff, and reports no venture, private equity, or public ownership.

Name

Cannon Center For The Performing Arts

Legal name

Cannon Center for the Performing Arts

Website

https://www.thecannoncenter.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts is a 2,051-seat multi-purpose venue in Downtown Memphis that hosts symphony concerts, ballet, opera, touring Broadway, comedy, and convention events, serving general audiences, touring promoters, and the adjacent Renasant Convention Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue & Live Entertainment

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live event hosting
• Venue rental services
• Concert and theater bookings
• Convention center complex

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed events sold through Ticketmaster and the Box Office, including concerts, symphony performances, ballet, opera, comedy shows, and theatrical productions
2. Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting the venue for public ticketed shows and private non-ticketed events including concerts, stageplays, family entertainment, dance competitions, movie screenings, assemblies, and company parties
3. Parking Fees: Revenue from parking services at 266 N. Front St. garage at $11.41 per vehicle including taxes and fees, through Premium Parking
4. Food and Beverage: Front of House food and beverage services exclusively provided by RK Group including alcoholic beverages. Back of House catering allowed with prior approval

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cannon Center for the Performing Arts operates a 2,051-seat theater within the Memphis Cook Convention Center complex, hosting live performances ranging from rock, country, classical music, comedy, and Broadway-style shows. It serves as the resident home of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and rents its auditorium, balcony, orchestra hall, and flexible seating configurations (1,051 to 2,051 seats) to event organizers, promoters, and producers.

Product overview

The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts is a single-venue performing arts facility offering event hosting and venue rental services. The core product is the 2,051-seat theater venue featuring state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting. The venue's offerings are supplemented by ticketing services through Ticketmaster, comprehensive event booking and rental services for public and private events, extensive back-of-house amenities including dressing rooms and catering facilities, and technical production services with full AV capabilities. The venue primarily serves as the home of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra while hosting diverse entertainment including concerts, comedy, theater, ballet, and opera performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ticketed Live Performances

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,051 seats available across orchestra, parterre, mezzanine and balcony levels
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Memphis Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Resident symphony orchestra performing regularly at the Cannon Center since 2003, including subscription concerts featuring classical repertoire such as Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev, as well as special events like Magic of Memphis holiday show and patriotic tributes.
• Prestige AV & Creative ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationIn-house AV partner providing state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities for all events at the Cannon Center and Renasant Convention Center. Demonstrates capabilities through video presentations and light shows from center stage.
• The RK GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive food and beverage provider for Front of House areas at the Cannon Center, including alcoholic beverages. Provides catering services for events with kitchenette facilities in back of house areas.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable partner featured on the Cannon Center website. St. Jude promotes mission at conventions and events at the venue.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial authorized ticketing marketplace for all Cannon Center ticketed events including concerts, performances, and shows. Provides mobile ticketing and advance purchase capabilities.
• Premium ParkingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParking partner providing advance parking reservations and onsite kiosk payment systems at the Renasant Convention Center/Cannon Center garage at 266 N. Front St.
• Opera MemphisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for opera performances such as Rigoletto in Concert, bringing opera programming to the Cannon Center stage.
• Memphis Management GroupcoreOthersManaging partner of Renasant Convention Center and Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Responsible for overall operations and management of the venue.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orpheum Theatre Memphis: Historic ~2,300-seat performing arts theater in downtown Memphis presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and comedy. Directly comparable in scale, market, and programming mix to the Cannon Center and is the most proximate head-to-head competitor for touring productions and event rentals in Memphis.
• Ryman Auditorium: Iconic ~2,300-seat performing arts venue in Nashville operating as a live entertainment and event rental business. Comparable as a purpose-built historic theater monetizing tickets, rentals, and F&B with a resident programming partner (Grand Ole Opry).
• Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC): Multi-venue performing arts center in Nashville hosting Broadway, symphony, ballet, and opera. Directly comparable as a regional performing arts campus with resident ensemble partnerships, rental operations, and similar audience demographic.
• Aronoff Center for the Arts: Cincinnati's 2,700-seat performing arts center hosting symphony, ballet, Broadway, and concerts. Comparable as a purpose-built mid-sized theater venue with similar rental, ticketing, and resident ensemble dynamics.
• Bass Performance Hall: Fort Worth's 2,000+ seat performing arts hall operated by Performing Arts Fort Worth. Directly comparable in scale and program mix (symphony, ballet, touring Broadway, concerts) with a comparable resident ensemble model.
• Kravis Center for the Performing Arts: West Palm Beach's 2,200-seat performing arts venue hosting symphony, opera, ballet, and touring productions. Comparable as a purpose-built modern theater with diversified ticket, rental, and patron revenue streams in a tourism-driven market.
• Fox Theatre Atlanta: Atlanta's ~4,600-seat historic performing arts venue presenting Broadway, concerts, and family shows. Comparable as a regional flagship performing arts venue monetizing rentals, ticketing, and F&B with resident programming partners.

Regional players

• Halloran Centre for Performing Arts: Smaller (~360-seat) flexible performance space in Memphis operated by the same Orpheum organization. Comparable as a Memphis performing arts venue operator, though at materially smaller scale and complementary rather than directly competitive programming.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center: New York's premier multi-venue performing arts campus including David Geffen Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House. Comparable as a performing arts venue operator with resident ensemble partnerships and rental/ticketing economics, but at far larger scale and broader programming portfolio.

Others

• Spectra (venue management by Ovations): Third-party venue management company operating performing arts centers, arenas, and convention venues on behalf of public owners. Comparable as the operating-model counterparty behind public-private venue management arrangements similar to the Cannon Center's Memphis Management Group structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheCannonCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecannoncenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cannon-center-for-the-performing-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecannoncenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Cannon Center For The Performing Arts