The Regency Ballroom is a mid-sized concert hall in San Francisco’s Van Ness/Polk Gulch neighborhood, occupying a Neoclassical/Beaux-Arts building originally constructed in 1909 as a Scottish Rite Masonic temple designed by architect Albert Roller. After decades as a movie theater, the building reopened as the Regency Center in 2002, and today the Regency Ballroom serves as the primary concert hall within that complex, prized as much for its 35-foot ceilings and horseshoe balcony as for the touring acts it books.
Because it sits between San Francisco’s small clubs and its larger theaters, the Regency Ballroom is one of the venues people search for before a show without knowing much beyond the name: how many people fit inside, where exactly it is, whether it’s all ages, what you can bring in, and where to park. Below is a complete rundown of the venue’s capacity by configuration, its layout, address and parking, ticket and entry policies, and a look at the space through photos and history.
Quick Answer
The Regency Ballroom is a historic concert hall at 1300 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, on the northeast corner of Van Ness and Sutter Street. It holds up to about 1,400 people in a general-admission, standing-room configuration, or around 700 in a seated theater setup, and is booked by AEG Presents. Most shows are all ages, tickets are sold through AXS, and there’s no dedicated venue parking lot, so plan on a nearby garage.
Regency Ballroom Capacity, By Configuration
The Regency Ballroom’s main room is a 6,600-square-foot hall with a published maximum capacity of 1,400 guests. For most concerts, that capacity is filled as an open, general-admission standing floor in front of the stage, with the horseshoe-shaped balcony above adding additional standing or reserved space depending on the show.
When the room is set with chairs for a seated event or theater-style show, capacity drops to roughly 700, since floor space that would otherwise pack in standing fans instead has to accommodate rows of seating. Private events add more flexibility still: banquet, reception, and ceremony layouts can range from a few hundred up to the room’s 1,400-guest ceiling depending on staging and table configuration.
The Regency Ballroom is the largest of three connected event spaces inside the Regency Center. The Social Hall, a separate room within the same building, holds up to about 600 guests, and the smaller Lodge holds around 300. Combined, all three spaces total 15,225 square feet and can accommodate as many as 2,300 guests for events that book the entire complex at once — worth knowing if a listing mentions a larger number than the Ballroom’s own 1,400 cap.
Seating Chart & Layout
For concerts, the Regency Ballroom’s main floor is general-admission standing, arranged in gentle tiers that step up from the stage to improve sightlines from the back of the room. Above the floor, the wraparound balcony is typically split into two tiers: loge seating on the lower level, which sits closest to the floor with some of the best views in the house, and upper balcony seating that circles the room for a more panoramic vantage point.
Not every show offers reserved balcony seats — it depends on the artist and promoter — so it’s worth checking the seating chart on the specific event’s AXS listing before buying tickets. The room’s built-in stage sits at one end of the hall, with the bar and standing areas wrapping the floor’s perimeter. Because the venue was built as a Masonic temple rather than purpose-built for concerts, the layout still carries some of its original early-20th-century proportions, part of why the sightlines and acoustics feel different from a typical modern club.
Tickets, Age Policy & Entry Rules
Tickets are sold through AXS.com, by phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX (daily, 6am–8pm), or in person at the Regency Ballroom’s own box office, which opens only on show days at door time and charges a per-ticket service fee for walk-up purchases; buying online in advance avoids that fee. On event nights, patrons can also pick up or buy tickets at the Warfield Theatre box office on Market Street as an alternate location. Will Call pickup requires a valid photo ID matching the name on the order.
Most Regency Ballroom shows are all ages, but some are restricted to 18-and-over or 21-and-over — that’s set by the artist and promoter on a per-show basis, so always check the specific event listing before buying. Anyone attending an age-restricted show needs valid government-issued photo ID, and everyone, regardless of age, needs their own ticket. Once a ticket is scanned at the door, re-entry isn’t allowed except through the designated smoking area.
Outside food and drink aren’t permitted, and professional cameras (any camera with a detachable lens) require the artist’s permission to bring inside. For current hours, prices, and any show-specific entry requirements, the official Regency Ballroom website is the most reliable source, since policies can change by event.
Bag Policy & Accessibility
Bag rules at the Regency Ballroom are typically set per show rather than applied as one fixed venue-wide policy, so it’s worth checking the specific event’s AXS page or the venue’s house rules ahead of a visit, especially for larger or higher-profile bookings where a clear-bag requirement is more common.
The venue’s accessible entrance is at 1270 Sutter Street, with ADA seating available on the ballroom floor along the house-left side. Wheelchair lifts and elevators serve most levels of the building (the mezzanine is the exception), and accessible restrooms are available on the main level as well as in the Social Hall and the Lodge. Guests needing accessibility assistance can call ahead to confirm arrangements for a specific show.
Location, Address & Getting There
The Regency Ballroom sits at 1300 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109, on the northeast corner of Van Ness and Sutter Street, inside the historic Regency Center building. That puts it a few blocks from Nob Hill and the Tenderloin’s northern edge, along one of the city’s main north-south arterial streets.
The venue is served by Muni bus lines running along Van Ness Avenue and Sutter Street, making it reachable without a car for most San Francisco neighborhoods. There’s no dedicated venue parking lot, so anyone driving in should plan on a nearby garage or metered street spot, especially on show nights when Van Ness traffic backs up.
Parking Near the Regency Ballroom
Street parking on Van Ness and the surrounding side streets is metered and limited, particularly once a show lets out, so most concertgoers use one of the paid garages within a few blocks: the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway garage at 1500 Van Ness, Sutter Place Garage at 1375 Sutter Street, Polk Bush Garage at 1399 Bush Street, the public parking lot at 819 Ellis Street, Hemlock Garage at 80 Hemlock Street, and Old First Garage at 1725 Sacramento Street.
Arriving 30–45 minutes before doors gives enough buffer to park and walk over, since garages near Van Ness fill up fast for larger shows.
Planning Your Visit
Doors and showtimes vary by event, and ticket pricing follows a tiered structure that depends on the artist, seating type (general admission floor versus reserved balcony or loge), and how close to the show date a ticket is purchased — prices on AXS typically rise as a show gets closer to selling out. Because both hours and prices change with each booking, the official Regency Ballroom site and its AXS event pages are the best source for a specific show’s exact doors time, price tiers, and any special entry requirements.
For private events — weddings, corporate parties, receptions — the Regency Center books the Ballroom, Social Hall, and Lodge separately or together, with layouts and pricing quoted directly through the venue’s events team rather than listed publicly.
Photos & History of the Regency Ballroom
The Regency Ballroom’s most photographed features are the ones original to the 1909 building: turn-of-the-century teardrop chandeliers hanging beneath 35-foot ceilings, the blonde hardwood dance floor, and the sweeping horseshoe balcony that frames the room from above. Exterior shots typically capture the building’s Neoclassical/Beaux-Arts facade and marquee at the corner of Van Ness and Sutter, one of the more distinctive concert-venue exteriors in the city.
For a full look at the space beyond still photos, the venue’s official site hosts a virtual tour that walks through the ballroom, balcony, and adjoining rooms in the Regency Center. It’s a useful reference for touring parties, event planners, or anyone deciding on a seat before buying tickets.
A multi-million-dollar renovation in recent years upgraded the Regency Ballroom with a permanent L-Acoustics L-series sound system — the first of its kind on the West Coast when installed — along with updated lighting, giving touring acts a notably better technical setup than the room’s century-old shell might suggest.
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Regency Ballroom SF capacity, tickets, and parking FAQs
What is the capacity of the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco?
The Regency Ballroom holds up to 1,400 guests in a standing, general-admission configuration, or around 700 when set up with seating for a theater-style show.
Is the Regency Ballroom all ages?
Most shows are all ages, but some are restricted to 18-and-over or 21-and-over depending on the artist and promoter, so check the specific event listing on AXS before buying tickets.
Where do you buy tickets for the Regency Ballroom?
Tickets are sold through AXS.com, by phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX, or at the venue’s own box office, which only opens on show days at door time and charges a per-ticket walk-up fee.
Is there parking at the Regency Ballroom?
There’s no dedicated venue lot. Nearby paid garages include the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway garage at 1500 Van Ness, Sutter Place Garage at 1375 Sutter Street, and Polk Bush Garage at 1399 Bush Street, plus limited metered street parking.
What is the bag policy at the Regency Ballroom?
Bag rules are typically set per show rather than fixed venue-wide, so check the specific event’s AXS page or house rules ahead of time, especially for shows that may require clear bags.
Can you leave and re-enter the Regency Ballroom during a show?
No. Once a ticket is scanned, re-entry isn’t permitted except through the designated outdoor smoking area.
Is the Regency Ballroom wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The accessible entrance is at 1270 Sutter Street, with ADA floor seating on the house-left side, wheelchair lifts and elevators to most levels, and accessible restrooms on the main level, Social Hall, and Lodge.
Where is the Regency Ballroom located?
The Regency Ballroom is at 1300 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109, on the northeast corner of Van Ness Avenue and Sutter Street.
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