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->Main Page & Events Calendar
->Rental Documents
->Seating Charts
->City National Civic’s Sky Bar
->Gallery
Virtual Tour
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“Fast Facts”
- 2,850 seats, with up to 137 ADA-compliant spaces
- 1,028 Main Floor seats
- 628 Dress Circle seats
- 1,194 Balcony seats
- 350 Banquet-Style seats available
- 1,000 Classroom-Style seats available
- Flexible seating plans are available
- 3,322 max. GA capacity
- State-of-the-art Sound & HD video
- Stage Size: 112’ x 35’
- Proscenium Opening: 49’ 9” x 30’
- Additional information is available upon request
Additional Information
The City National Civic is a designated City Landmark. Designed by Binder & Curtis in the Spanish California Mission style, its lobby features painted wooden beams with Native-American designs. In 1933, Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Montgomery gave the City of San Jose the property where the Civic sits. In 1934, the cost of construction was $500,000, with the Federal Government’s Public Works Fund contributing $112,000 and a bond measure passed by San Jose residents supporting the rest of the $375,000. It originally opened in 1936.
In October of 2012, this classic venue reopened on the heels of a historic, $15 million renovation project. In December of 2013, City of San Jose and Team San Jose officials unveiled the renamed City National Civic and new marquee to rebrand the historic concert venue. City National Bank, California’s premier private and business bank, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2014. Backed by nearly $30 billion in assets, the company is now the 25th largest American commercial bank.
Musical legends including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, The Grateful Dead, The Beach Boys, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra have all performed on this stage. In fact, The Who launched their first headlining U.S. tour here in 1968.
The Civic has been home to a wide variety of events over the years. There have been political figure appearances, such as the 1970 visit from then-President Richard Nixon that made national headlines when he was confronted by Anti-War protesters. It hosted prize fights for Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Max Bear and additional boxing greats. It has hosted events from kickboxing tournaments to dance productions to children’s touring shows and more.
Prior to the 2012 grand reopening, the former San Jose Redevelopment Agency funded $11 million in renovations, with the City of San Jose and San Jose Theater Preservation Fund picking up the rest of the capital investment needed to fully renovate this historic venue.
Renovations included new lighting and sound equipment, comfortable new seats, upgraded concession areas, updated exterior lighting, restroom restoration, installation of a Wall of Fame, new signage, new interior and exterior painting, upgraded dressing rooms, the addition of an ADA-compliant elevator, a new security system, a new heating system and seismic upgrades.
San Jose Theaters, a division of Team San Jose, manages the City National Civic on behalf of the City of San Jose, which owns the venue. Another highly-regarded performance space, the Montgomery Theater, is attached to the City National Civic.
Rental Information
This historic indoor venue, located in downtown San Jose, hosts a variety of shows, concerts, corporate meetings and general sessions, family shows, fundraiser galas, banquet dinners and other events.
The main floor of the City National Civic can offer banquet style seated dinners to accommodate up to 500 guests for proms, galas, weddings, or corporate dinners. A variety of spaces such as the VIP Room and the Sky Bar Lounge (located on the 2nd floor of the building overlooking the Convention Center), easily accommodate pre- or post-show cocktail receptions, media gatherings or breakout sessions. An array of dressing rooms backstage allow guests to feel at home.
If you are interested in more information about potentially renting City National Civic, please see our Rental Information Page.