Entertainment Commission approves All‑Star Weekend activations and five venue permits

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on Feb. 4 approved a series of one‑time and limited live performance (LLP) permits for All‑Star Weekend activations and new or returning venue programs in areas including SoMa, the Embarcadero, Polk Street and the Chase Stadium/Thrive City complex.

The approvals covered a consent calendar of previously permitted farmers markets and one indoor LLP permit, and six regular‑agenda permits: MKG Productions’ Google Pixel house activation at 667 Howard Street; City Knights LP’s All‑Star activation at 400 Third Street; Ramp (855 Terry Francois Boulevard) requests for NBA All‑Star activations and extended Saturday salsa programming; Royal Ground Coffee’s LLP at 2216 Polk Street; and Splash at Thrive City’s LLP at the Chase Stadium complex. All motions to approve were carried by roll call vote with recorded ayes; two commissioners recused from individual items.

Why it matters: the permits enable multiple commercial activations tied to the NBA All‑Star weekend and allow several businesses to expand outdoor or extended hours programming. The commission’s process included standard neighborhood outreach, SFPD review for most items, and staff sound or outreach conditions attached to approvals.

The commission approved the consent calendar first, which the staff described as three one‑time outdoor event permits (outdoor farmers markets with extended durations) and one indoor LLP permit; SFPD Southern Station reported no additional conditions. A motion to approve the consent calendar carried unanimously.

On the regular agenda, the commission approved the following permits with staff recommendations and standard conditions intended to limit noise and require on‑site contact information for complaints:

- MKG Productions / Google Pixel house activation (667 Howard St.): one‑time outdoor activation Feb. 13–16 including prerecorded ambient music daily and a live DJ set with a concert from 9–10 p.m. on Feb. 15. Staff noted the applicant requested more than six hours of amplified sound per day and performed neighborhood outreach. The permit was approved.

- City Knights LP All‑Star activation (parking lot adjacent to 400 Third St.): one‑time outdoor amplified sound permit for Feb. 15 with two blocks of activity totaling six hours. Staff reported one neighbor complaint about prior patron behavior (trash/vandalism) but recommended approval with conditions; SFPD Southern Station had no added recommendations. The permit was approved.

- Ramp restaurants (855 Terry Francois Blvd.): approval covered two separate requests — NBA All‑Star events on Feb. 15–16 that exceed the six‑hour daily maximum and continuation of Saturday salsa nights that exceed administratively allowed days of outdoor entertainment through the current 12‑month period ending June 2025. Commissioner Schlander recused from this item. Staff reported Port approval for events on Port property; SFPD Southern Station had no additional recommendations. The permit was approved.

- Royal Ground Coffee (2216 Polk St.): LLP permit to allow indoor entertainment until 11 p.m. daily and outdoor amplified sound daily within a six‑hour limit; owner outreach to nearby commercial and residential neighbors was reported and no opposition was recorded. The permit was approved.

- Splash at Thrive City (Chase Stadium area): LLP permit for indoor entertainment until 11 p.m. and outdoor amplified sound on front and rear patios, with hours aligned to Warriors’ POE permit conditions. Vice President Wong recused from this item. Staff reported neighborhood outreach and no opposition; SFPD Southern Station provided standard calendaring conditions. The permit was approved.

Votes at a glance (roll call outcomes as recorded by the commission clerk): each listed permit was approved by recorded ayes from President Blyman, Vice President Wong (where not recused), Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Schlander (recused on Ramp item), and Commissioner Thomas. Where recusal occurred it was noted; no recorded no votes were announced in the meeting transcript.

Staff emphasized that applicants must provide on‑site contact information and that audio teams or sound technicians are expected to manage levels in real time when live performance takes place. Where applicants reported prior outreach, staff included outreach maps and copies of notification letters in the permit packets.

Commissioners made several supportive comments about All‑Star Weekend bringing activity to the city and encouraged permit applicants to follow conditions; no additional enforcement actions were taken during the meeting.

The commission also noted upcoming scheduling: there will be no hearing Feb. 18; the next hearing is scheduled for March 4. The commission’s annual summit is scheduled for May 12 at 49 South Van Ness.