The Warfield has spent more than a century as one of Market Street’s landmark stages, first as a 1920s vaudeville and movie palace and, since 1979, as one of San Francisco’s most storied concert halls. Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Slayer, and Dream Theater have all made history under its ornate proscenium arch.
If you’re headed to a show there, this guide covers the practical side too: how the seating chart breaks down between floor, loge, and balcony, where to park nearby, what the bag and age policies actually say, and how to buy tickets through the venue’s official channels.
Quick Answer
The Warfield is a 2,454-capacity historic theater at 982 Market Street in San Francisco, opened in 1922 as a vaudeville and movie palace and reborn as a concert venue in 1979. It’s operated today by Goldenvoice, with tickets sold through AXS.com and the venue’s own box office.
From Vaudeville Palace to Rock Landmark
Marcus Loew built the Warfield as a movie and vaudeville palace, naming it for silent-era actor and San Francisco native David Warfield. Architect G. Albert Lansburgh’s design paired Spanish Baroque ornamentation with careful acoustic engineering, including a proscenium arch mural by Albert Herter depicting matadors and señoritas that still frames the stage today.
For decades the Warfield screened films and hosted variety acts before falling into decline along Market Street. Its reinvention as a rock venue began in 1979, when Bill Graham Presents brought Bob Dylan in for a run of shows launching his Gospel Tour and reintroducing the building to San Francisco’s live music scene.
A Stage for Music History
Through the 1980s and beyond, The Warfield became a favored stop for major touring artists, cementing its reputation with the Grateful Dead’s 15th-anniversary run in 1980, portions of which were recorded for the band’s live albums; Jerry Garcia went on to play the stage 88 times across various projects.
Metal act Slayer filmed their concert release ‘War at the Warfield’ here in 2001, and Dream Theater debuted new drummer Mike Mangini on the same stage in 2011. A significant renovation in 2008 refreshed the venue under new management, and it reopened under Goldenvoice’s operation, continuing to book a wide mix of touring rock, pop, and hip-hop acts while preserving its early-20th-century architectural details.
Seating Chart: Floor, Loge & Balcony Explained
The Warfield’s 2,454-seat layout splits into a few distinct sections: the General Admission Floor (standing room directly in front of the stage), plus reserved seating upstairs in the Lower Loge, Upper Loge, Lower Balcony, and General Admission Balcony. Loge and balcony seats are numbered with odd numbers on one side of the theater and even numbers on the other.
Whether floor or balcony makes more sense depends on the show: floor puts you closest to the stage but on your feet, while loge and balcony seats trade proximity for a guaranteed seat and a wide view of the room. Seating layouts can vary by event, so it’s worth checking the specific chart for your show on the venue’s ticketing page before you buy.
Tickets, Prices & How to Buy
Tickets for The Warfield are sold through AXS.com, by phone, or in person at the venue’s box office, with pricing set per event by the artist and promoter rather than a fixed venue rate — expect it to vary widely by show and seating section. Advance tickets bought at the physical box office avoid AXS’s online service fees but still carry a box office fee per ticket.
As with most touring venues, tickets are sold on a no refunds, exchanges, or cancellations basis, and per-order ticket limits vary by show. For current listings, exact pricing, and official box office hours, check the official Warfield website before you buy.
Planning Your Visit: Parking, Transit & Box Office Hours
The Warfield sits at 982 Market Street near the intersection of 6th and Market, about a block and a half south of the Powell Street BART/Muni station — public transit is generally the easiest way in given limited street parking downtown. Several paid garages operate nearby, including lots on Stevenson Street and Mission Street, and the venue has previously offered a discount code for advance online parking bookings.
The box office keeps limited walk-up hours on non-show days and also opens roughly 90 minutes before each event for ticket sales and will-call pickup; will call requires a photo ID, the card used for purchase, and your confirmation number. Confirm the current schedule and any parking discount codes on the official Warfield directions page.
Bag Policy, Age Policy & House Rules
The Warfield runs a searched-bag policy: backpacks are allowed only after being searched and must then be checked at coat check for the duration of the show, while luggage, professional cameras with detachable lenses, laptops, outside food and drink, and recording devices are prohibited outright. Small point-and-shoot cameras are typically fine unless the artist restricts them.
Most shows are open to all ages, but some are booked as 18-and-over or 21-and-over events, and a valid government-issued photo ID is required to enter those — school IDs and digital copies aren’t accepted. Once a ticket is scanned at the door there’s no re-entry except through the designated smoking area, so it’s worth checking each event’s specific age restriction on the venue’s listing before you go.
Accessibility at The Warfield
Accessible seating is available on the general admission floor toward the back of the room, and an elevator provides access from the lobby down to the basement level, including accessible restroom stalls. Patrons needing a sign language interpreter are asked to submit requests to the venue at least two weeks before the show.
Phone, cards and keys in front of you all night, hands free for the encore.
Packs smaller than a water bottle — a real seat for lawn shows and festival sets.
Protects little ears at concerts, fireworks and loud race days.
The Warfield (San Francisco) FAQs
When did The Warfield open?
The Warfield opened as the Loews Warfield vaudeville and movie palace on May 13, 1922.
What is the capacity of The Warfield?
The Warfield holds 2,454 people at maximum capacity, spread across the general admission floor, loge, and balcony sections.
Why is The Warfield historically significant for live music?
It became a major concert venue in 1979 when Bill Graham Presents booked Bob Dylan for a two-week run launching his Gospel Tour, and the Grateful Dead later celebrated their 15th anniversary there with 15 sold-out shows in 1980.
How do I buy tickets to The Warfield?
Tickets are sold through AXS.com, by phone, or in person at the venue’s box office; buying in person avoids AXS’s online fees but adds a box office fee instead. All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges.
Is there parking at The Warfield?
The Warfield doesn’t have its own dedicated lot, but several paid garages sit within a few blocks on Stevenson and Mission Streets, and street parking is limited. The Powell Street BART/Muni station is about a block and a half away and is generally the easiest option.
What is The Warfield’s bag policy?
Backpacks are allowed only if searched and then checked at coat check for the show; luggage, professional cameras with detachable lenses, laptops, and outside food or drink are not permitted inside.
Are Warfield shows all ages?
Most shows are open to all ages, but some events are restricted to 18-and-over or 21-and-over, requiring a valid government-issued photo ID at the door. Check the specific event listing for its age policy before buying tickets.
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