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Entertainment Commission approves amendment allowing outdoor amplified sound at Warriors event center with conditions
Summary
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted to amend the Golden State Warriors' conditional Place of Entertainment permit to allow outdoor amplified sound on the Third Street plaza, subject to noise limits, policing conditions and a 24/7 hotline; commissioners and neighborhood stakeholders said live testing will determine actual impacts.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Golden State Warriors event center’s conditional Place of Entertainment permit to allow outdoor amplified sound on the Third Street plaza at Mission Bay South (Blocks 29–32).
The vote followed a staff presentation of a noise-control plan and police-recommended conditions incorporated in the draft resolution. Director Megan Weiland told the commission the amendment distinguishes between “special events” (up to 15 per year, 14 of which must end amplified sound by 11 p.m., with one allowed to end at 1 a.m.) and routine non‑special events. The amendment sets technical limits, generally no more than 8 decibels above ambient at 250 feet and an objective “not audible” standard at 250 feet for some non‑special events, and requires calibration and ongoing measurement of sound levels.
“GSW has worked closely with UCSF and neighborhood groups and revised the noise control plan,” staff said during the presentation, noting letters of support from nearby stakeholders and that UCSF said it was not opposed after consultation.
Bert Blieman, identified at the hearing as the chief operating officer for GSW Arena LLC, described outreach and operational plans including a 24/7 manned hotline, an on-site unified command center staffed on event days and pre-event calibration of volume settings. “We will provide monthly schedules to stakeholders and adjust immediately if measurements show exceedances,” he said.
Residents and neighborhood representatives who spoke at the hearing voiced cautious support, praising the Warriors’ outreach while noting that live events will be the true test. Bruce Saget, a member of the South Beach–Mission Bay Neighborhood Association, said the applicant had “demonstrated a thoughtful approach” but added that “until there’s live testing … we won’t know the actual impact.”
The commission’s motion adopted the environmental findings and granted the amendment with police and planning conditions incorporated as presented. The permit-holder must follow the noise-control plan and the hotline and comply with monitoring and reporting requirements specified in the resolution. Staff indicated the conditions are enforceable and that any deviations will be reviewed by the commission.
