The San Francisco Giants have acquired the Curran Theatre, marking an unusual expansion for the baseball franchise into the city’s performing arts scene.
Giants President and CEO Larry Baer on Thursday announced the purchase from Carole Shorenstein Hays in a private transaction. Terms were not disclosed.
The 103-year-old theater has been a cornerstone of Union Square’s cultural landscape since opening in 1922. The new ownership represents a shift amid the revitalization of downtown.
“Acquiring the Curran expands our commitment to San Francisco and reinforces our core belief that sports, arts, and culture are essential to San Francisco’s identity, economy, and resurgence,” Baer said.
Mayor Daniel Lurie called the deal “a landmark moment” that signals confidence in downtown’s future.
The Curran has hosted major theatrical productions over the decades, including the world premiere of “Wicked” before its Broadway run and “Fences,” which went on to win the Tony Award for best play and the Pulitzer Prize. From 1993 to 1999, the theater housed “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest continuously running production of the musical outside New York and London.
Shorenstein Hays purchased the building in 2010 and oversaw a major renovation that culminated in a 2016 reopening. Under her leadership, the theater became known for bold, artist-driven productions and community programming.
“It was essential to me that its next stewards would ensure it remains a vibrant home for artists and audiences alike,” Shorenstein Hays said. “I am so pleased that the Giants have stepped up to the plate.”
Broadway SF will continue operating the theater, and all scheduled programming will remain in place.
The Giants, founded in 1883, have called San Francisco home since 1958.