Savannah Civic Center

What Savannah Civic Center does

Savannah Civic Center is a multi-purpose live entertainment and event venue located at 301 W. Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah, Georgia's Historic District. The property is owned by the City of Savannah and operated under management by Oak View Group (OVG), a private venue management company, since 2020. The venue's core product is the Johnny Mercer Theatre, a 2,524-seat proscenium venue (1,582 orchestra, 216 mezzanine, 678 balcony) with one of the largest proscenium arches in the Southeast. Theatrical stage dimensions are 107'8" x 71'4". Supporting facilities include a 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom (capacity 340) and a 3,000 sq ft Meeting Space (reception capacity 60). Together, the facilities host nearly 900 events annually.

The venue's core technology stack is narrow and consumer-facing: ticketing is delivered exclusively through Ticketmaster with SafeTix (rotating entry tokens, NFC Apple Wallet passes, RFID) as the mandatory entry mechanism, and Ticketmaster's All-In Pricing is implemented to display total cost including fees upfront. No proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or software products are built or operated by the venue. Marketing and audience engagement are conducted through the venue website (savannahcivic.com), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and an email newsletter for presale access.

The business model is transaction- and rental-based. Revenue streams include ticket sales via Ticketmaster and the on-site Box Office (Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10am-4pm), venue rental of the Grand Ballroom, Meeting Space, and Johnny Mercer Theatre for corporate events, weddings, and private functions, and Group Sales coordinated through a dedicated department serving groups of 10+ attendees. Customer segments include individual ticket-buying consumers, corporate event organizers, social/private event hosts, and community groups. Programming partnerships with BBC Studios and South Carolina Ballet provide recurring content, while the 'Broadway in Savannah' sub-brand packages touring Broadway productions. The 2025-26 Broadway season was characterized as 'one for the record books,' and the venue is collecting subscriber interest for the 2026 season.

Name

Savannah Civic Center

Legal name

Johnny Mercer Theatre

Website

https://savannahcivic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Savannah Civic Center is a publicly owned, OVG-managed live entertainment venue in Savannah, Georgia, operating the 2,524-seat Johnny Mercer Theatre, a 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom, and meeting space, hosting nearly 900 events annually for individual ticket buyers, corporate groups, and private event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Government & Municipal Event Venues (THAHAAAE), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Arena & Stadium Operations (Large-Capacity Venues) (MPAGALAA), Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Live entertainment venue
• Event hosting services
• Corporate event spaces
• Broadway touring productions
• Ballroom meeting rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Savannah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for events at Johnny Mercer Theatre and the Grand Ballroom through Ticketmaster and the box office. The venue uses Ticketmaster's SafeTix technology for secure entry.
2. Venue Rental: Revenue from renting out the Johnny Mercer Theatre, Grand Ballroom (6,000 sq ft), and meeting space (3,000 sq ft) for corporate meetings, weddings, and other private events.
3. Group Sales: Group sales department coordinates outings for community and corporate groups with special discounts and preferred seating. Groups of 10-20+ people qualify for discounted tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Savannah Civic Center is a multi-purpose live entertainment and event venue operating the 2,524-seat Johnny Mercer Theatre, a 6,000 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom (capacity 340), and a 3,000 sq. ft. Meeting Space (capacity 60). It hosts nearly 900 events annually including Broadway touring productions, concerts, comedy shows, ballet performances, speaker series, corporate meetings, weddings, and private events, with tickets sold via Ticketmaster and an on-site Box Office.

Product overview

Savannah Civic Center is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue in Savannah, Georgia, owned by the City of Savannah and managed by Oak View Group (OVG). The core product portfolio centers on the Johnny Mercer Theatre, a 2,524-seat proscenium venue hosting Broadway shows, concerts, ballets, comedy, and speaker events; the Civic Center Grand Ballroom (6,000 sq. ft., capacity 340); and a 3,000 sq. ft. Meeting Space (capacity 60). Supporting services include a Box Office (in-person and Ticketmaster online), Group Sales coordination for bulk bookings, SafeTix secure entry technology, All-In Ticket Pricing, a bag check service, and the Broadway in Savannah programming sub-brand. The venue hosts nearly 900 events annually and serves as the primary live entertainment destination in the Savannah region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Johnny Mercer Theatre A 2,524-seat proscenium theatre (1,582 orchestra, 216 mezzanine, 678 balcony) with one of the largest proscenium arches in the Southeast. Hosts Broadway musicals, concerts, professional ballets, comedy shows, and speaker series. Stage dimensions are 107' 8" x 71' 4". Owned by the City of Savannah and managed by OVG.
• Civic Center Grand Ballroom

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oak View Group (OVG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOVG manages the Johnny Mercer Theatre on behalf of the City of Savannah. As a facilities management partner, OVG handles day-to-day operations of the venue including event programming, ticketing coordination, and facility management.
• City of SavannahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Savannah owns the Johnny Mercer Theatre and Civic Center property. The city retains ownership while OVG manages operations.
• TicketmastercoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial ticketing partner for all events at Johnny Mercer Theatre. All tickets are sold through Ticketmaster's SafeTix platform which uses rotating entry tokens, NFC Apple Wallet passes, or RFID for secure entry.
• BBC StudiosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBBC Studios presents Bluey's Big Play at the venue, a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy award-winning children's television series in association with Andrew Kay and Windmill Theatre Co.
• South Carolina BalletminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual performing arts partner presenting Nutcracker and Dracula! Ballet with a Bite at the Johnny Mercer Theatre. South Carolina Ballet is the largest performing arts organization in the state.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Peace Center (Greenville, SC): Multi-venue performing arts campus in Greenville, SC offering Broadway tours, concerts, and community programming. Similar multi-space (theatre + ballroom) operating model.
• Charleston Gaillard Center: Regional performing arts center in Charleston, SC with a comparable mid-size auditorium hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and ballet. Most directly analogous venue in the coastal Southeast.
• Ovens Auditorium: 2,500-seat Charlotte civic auditorium operated by the city and hosting Broadway, concerts, and family shows. Closely matches Johnny Mercer on capacity and civic-ownership structure.
• Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC): 2,700-seat regional PAC in Durham, NC, recognized as one of the top-grossing mid-size theaters in the U.S. Closest scale and business-model comparable to Johnny Mercer Theatre.
• Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts: Moran and Terry Theatres at the Jacksonville Center host Broadway, concerts, and ballet in a comparable mid-size market. Same touring-tour economics and program mix as Savannah Civic Center.
• Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC): Multi-stage performing arts center in Nashville operated under a public-private model similar to Savannah Civic Center. Comparable resident-Broadway series and touring concert programming.
• Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre: 2,750-seat performing arts venue in metro Atlanta hosting Broadway, concerts, comedy, and family shows. Comparable seat count, programming mix, and touring-Broadway positioning.

Regional players

• Savannah Convention Center: Larger convention-focused venue in Savannah's Hutchinson Island area. Geographic peer that competes for corporate and meeting event bookings rather than theatrical entertainment.

Broad incumbents

• Fox Theatre (Atlanta): Historic 4,665-seat theater in midtown Atlanta with a wider programming slate and stronger brand. A larger regional incumbent that competes for the same touring shows feeding Savannah.

Emerging players

• Enmarket Arena (Savannah): Newer, larger-capacity arena in Savannah that overlaps with the Civic Center for concerts and touring events. Local emerging competitor that is actively cited in the Civic Center's own group-sales channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SavCivicCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/SavannahCivicCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/savannahciviccenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/savannah-civic-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Savannah Civic Center