{{Short description|Building in California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = San Jose Civic | image = Sanjoseauditorium.jpg | image_size = 250px | image_alt = | caption = {{small|Exterior of the Civic & Montgomery Theater in 2017}} | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | former_names = San Jose Municipal Auditorium {{small|(planning/construction)}}<br>San Jose Civic Auditorium {{small|(1933–2013)}}<br>City National Civic {{small|(2013–19)}} | address = 135 W San Carlos St<br>San Jose, CA 95113 | city = | location = Downtown San Jose | designation = | coordinates = {{Coord|37.330987|-121.890168|display=inline,title|type:landmark}} | owner = City of San Jose | tenants = Santa Clara Broncos {{small|(NCAA) (1951–75)}}<br>SJSU Spartans {{small|(NCAA) (1961–76, 1979–89)}}<br>San Jose Diablos {{small|(IVA) (1979)}}<br>San Jose Golddiggers {{small|(MLV) (1987–89)}} | operator = {{hlist|Team San Jose|Nederlander Concerts}} | capacity = 3,036 | type = | opened = {{Start date|1936|07|14}} | broke_ground = {{Start date|1934}} | reopened = | years_active = | rebuilt = | closed = <!--{{End date|YYYY|MM|FF|df=y}}--> | demolished = | cost = $530,515<br>{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|530515|1934}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}} | architect = Binder & Curtis | builder = | project_manager = Worley & Company | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = Thomas Construction | main_contractors = Swenson Construction | production = | embedded = {{Infobox building | embed = yes | mapframe = no | ren_cost = $25 million<br>{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|25000000|2009}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}} | renovation_date = 2009-12 | ren_architect = ELS Architecture | ren_firm = | ren_engineer = | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = {{hlist|National Electric Pro|Advanced Design Consultants|The Shalleck Collaborative|BBI Engineering}} | ren_qty_surveyor = | ren_contractor = Garden City Construction }} | parking = | public_transit = {{Nowrap|{{rint|santaclara}} {{rint|santaclara|blue}} {{rint|santaclara|green}} Convention Center}} | website = {{URL|https://sanjosetheaters.org/theaters/san-jose-civic/|Venue Website}} }} The '''San Jose Civic''' (formerly known as the '''San Jose Civic Auditorium''' and '''City National Civic''') is a former arena, currently operating as a theatre and concert venue, located in downtown San Jose, California. The venue is owned by the City of San Jose, is managed by Team San Jose<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2007/12/20/refurbished_civic_auditorium_requires_new_management/ |title=Refurbished Civic Auditorium Requires New Management |last1=Van Zandt |first1=Jack |date=December 20, 2007 |website=San Jose Inside |publisher=Metro Newspapers |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216055319/http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2007/12/20/refurbished_civic_auditorium_requires_new_management/ |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> and is booked by Nederlander Concerts.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Team San Jose and Nederlander Concerts Partner to Promote and Produce Events at the Historic Civic Auditorium |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/san_jose/civic_auditorium/prweb2045264.htm |location=San Jose, California |publisher= San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau |agency=PR Web |date=February 13, 2009 |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216062640/http://www.prweb.com/releases/san_jose/civic_auditorium/prweb2045264.htm |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> The auditorium seats 3,036 which can be expanded up to 3,326 in a general admission setting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sanjose.org/pdf/san-jose-civic |title=San Jose Civic |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 7, 2017 |website=Visit San Jose |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216044850/https://www.sanjose.org/pdf/san-jose-civic |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>
==History== The venue was created through a joint venture between the City of San Jose, Public Works Administration and local property owners Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Montgomery, who donated the property.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Sachin |date=May 31, 2012 |title=The New Deal at Work: San Jose's Civic Auditorium |publisher=De Anza College |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/95659260/San-Jose-Civic-Auditorium |access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Scribd|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The building was designed by Binder & Curtis,<ref>{{cite book |last=Dinkelspiel-Cerny |first=Susan |date=September 10, 2007 |title=An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkVQx6MWa8MC&q=san%20jose%20civic%20auditorium%20history&pg=PA209 |location=Layton, Utah |publisher=Gibbs Smith |page=209 |isbn=978-1586854324 |chapter=Santa Clara County}}</ref> in the Spanish Colonial/California Mission Revival style.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Short |first1=C.W.|last2=Stanley-Brown |first2=R. |date=May 1936 |title=Public Buildings: Architecture Under the Public Works Administration, 1933 to 1939 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |isbn=0306802651 }} </ref>
The venue's naming rights were given to City National Bank in December 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/12/04/san-jose-civic-renamed.html |title=San Jose's Civic gets new name with corporate sponsor |last1=Druzin |first1=Bryce |date=December 4, 2013 |website=Silicon Valley Business Journal |publisher=Advance Publications |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914005945/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/12/04/san-jose-civic-renamed.html |archive-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> with its original name being restored in May 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/san-jose-theaters-unveils-name-140000566.html |title=San Jose Theaters Unveils New Name And Branding For Historic San Jose Civic |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 15, 2019 |website=Yahoo! Finance |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216070532/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/san-jose-theaters-unveils-name-140000566.html?guccounter=1 |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>
The west wing was a convention hall called "Parkside Hall". It opened on September 22, 1977, as the "San Jose Convention Center". It served as the city's main convention center until a new facility of the same name opened across the street in 1989.<ref name="Evaluation">{{cite book|title=Historical Evaluation: Museum Place Mixed-Use Project|website=City of San Jose|date=April 14, 2016|access-date=June 12, 2017|url=https://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/66138|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117012054/https://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/66138 |archive-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> The building was demolished in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metroactive.com/features/columns/silicon-alleys_20100505.html |title=Renovations at San Jose Civic |last1=Singh |first1=Gary |date=May 5, 2010 |website=Metro Active |publisher=Metro Newspapers |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216063740/http://www.metroactive.com/features/columns/silicon-alleys_20100505.html |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>
A $25 million renovation of the venue (approved in 2007) was begun in 2009. A state-of-the-art sound and video system was installed, the building's floor was refurbished, an exterior lighting system was activated, and the loading dock was upgraded. Key improvements planned included a top-line interior lighting system, seating upgrades to replace the decades-old plastic molded chairs, more restrooms, and a new concessions program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/print-edition/2011/09/23/historic-san-jose-civic-auditorium.html |title=Historic San Jose Civic Auditorium makes modern-day debut |last1=Kim |first1=Elizabeth |date=September 23, 2011 |website=Silicon Valley Business Journal |publisher=Advance Publications |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004184950/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/print-edition/2011/09/23/historic-san-jose-civic-auditorium.html |archive-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref>
===Naming history=== *San Jose Municipal Auditorium {{small|(1934—April 1936) (planning/construction)}} *San Jose Civic Auditorium {{small|(July 14, 1936—December 3, 2013)}} *City National Civic {{small|(December 4, 2013—May 14, 2019)}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2013/12/03/pizarro-a-new-name-for-san-joses-civic-auditorium/ |title=A new name for San Jose's Civic Auditorium |last1=Pizarro |first1=Sal |date=December 3, 2013 |website=East Bay Times |publisher=Digital First Media |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216055822/https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2013/12/03/pizarro-a-new-name-for-san-joses-civic-auditorium/ |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> *San Jose Civic {{small|(May 15, 2019—present)}}<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=San Jose Theaters Unveils New Name And Branding For Historic San Jose Civic |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-jose-theaters-unveils-new-name-and-branding-for-historic-san-jose-civic-300850284.html |location=San Jose, California |publisher=Visit San Jose |agency=PR Newswire |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216070120/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-jose-theaters-unveils-new-name-and-branding-for-historic-san-jose-civic-300850284.html |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>
==Montgomery Theater==
thumb|The Montgomery Theater in 2024 The "Montgomery Theater" is attached to the east side of the building. Seating 486, it is the primary home of CMT San Jose.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/03/30/how-childrens-musical-theater-built-a-cast-of-thousands/ |title=How Children's Musical Theater built a cast of thousands |last1=Pizarro |first1=Sal |date=March 30, 2018 |website=San Jose Mercury News |publisher=Digital First Media |access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200216071545/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/03/30/how-childrens-musical-theater-built-a-cast-of-thousands/ |archive-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>
==Notable events== Many of the most popular entertainers and public figures have appeared at the venue creating memorable historic events since its opening in 1936. Barbra Streisand appeared there during her first concert tour in 1963. Bob Dylan and the Hawks played a famous show there on December 12, 1965, and Allen Ginsberg made a tape of it now held by the Stanford University Libraries. Earlier that year the Rolling Stones played a concert there that was attended by Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters who electrified a party afterward reportedly attended by Stones members. Richard Nixon made national headlines during an anti-war demonstration at the San Jose Civic.
It has presented major sporting events including boxing matches with champions such as Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. The Civic hosted the final day of the GENESIS 3 ''Super Smash Bros.'' tournament in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/14613564/what-genesis-tells-us-smash-2016|title=What Genesis tells us about Smash in 2016|website=go.com|date=21 January 2016|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> It was the venue for the trampoline events of the inaugural World Games I in 1981.
The venue has hosted professional wrestling events dating back to 1938, when promoter Hal Moore put on his first event.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1938-01-13 |title='Pop' Du Bose, S. J. State Mat Artist, Wins Pro Match |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/free-lance-pop-du-bose-s-j-state-ma/195784612/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=Free Lance |pages=4}}</ref> The Civic Auditorium continued to host weekly events after World War II and into the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shirlie Montgomery: Picturing San José Since 1938 |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/shirlie-montgomery-picturing-san-jos%C3%A9-since-1938/awURaxsKKyJOLA |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Gary |date=2014-04-16 |title=Shirlie MontgomeryPicturing San Jose since 1938 |url=https://www.metrosiliconvalley.com/shirlie-montgomerypicturing-san-jose-since-1938/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Metro Silicon Valley {{!}} Silicon Valley’s Leading Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref> Starting in 2019, the venue has hosted multiple events for the Japanese based New Japan Pro-Wrestling. New Japan put on its first show in San Jose on November 9th, 2019, as one half of NJPW Showdown. The promotion returned to the Civic on November 13, 2021, for the inaugural Battle in the Valley event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 September 2021 |title=Will Ospreay heads to Battle in the Valley November 13; new start time set 【NJoA】 |url=https://www.njpw1972.com/o104171 |access-date=17 April 2026 |website=New Japan Pro-Wrestling}}</ref> Battle in the Valley would become an annual pay-per-view show at the venue starting with the 2023 event, with additional shows in 2024 and 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2023 |title=Battle in the Valley returns to the San Jose Civic January 13 2024! 【NJoA】 |url=https://www.njpw1972.com/o160306 |access-date=17 April 2026 |website=New Japan Pro-Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michaels |first=Corey |date=2025-01-12 |title=NJPW Battle in the Valley live results: Kidd vs. Ishii, Takeshita vs. KUSHIDA |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/new-japan-results/njpw-battle-in-the-valley-live-results-kidd-vs-ishii-takeshita-vs-kushida/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=F4W/WON |language=en-GB}}</ref> The venue would host United States based All Elite Wrestling for the first time on March 11, 2026, featuring a live television broadcast of AEW Dynamite and a taping of AEW Collision.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wrestling |first=All Elite |date=2026-03-11 |title=AEW Dynamite Preview: March 11, 2026 – MJF & Hangman Press Conference, TNT and TBS Title Matches, More |url=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-preview-march-11-2026 |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=All Elite Wrestling |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20130415204754/http://www.sanjose.org/plan-a-meeting-event/venues/san-jose-civic/ |date=April 15, 2013 |title=Team San Jose Facility Information}} * [http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt9s20248t/?docId=kt9s20248t&layout=printable-details/ Hermanas Padilla 1935 Concert Poster]
{{San Jose State Spartans men's basketball navbox}} {{Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball navbox}} {{Santa Clara Broncos women's basketball navbox}} {{San Francisco Shock}} {{San Jose and Silicon Valley attractions}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Basketball venues in California Category:Boxing venues in California Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States Category:College basketball venues in California Category:Mixed martial arts venues in California Category:Downtown San Jose Category:Music venues in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball Category:Santa Clara Broncos women's basketball Category:San Jose State Spartans men's basketball Category:Sports venues in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Sports venues in San Jose, California Category:Theatres in San Jose, California Category:Tourist attractions in Silicon Valley Category:Esports venues in California Category:Badminton venues Category:Indoor arenas in California Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1936 Category:Sports venues completed in 1936 Category:Music venues completed in 1936