Mahaffey_Theater_Facility.pdf

This is a site map and facility overview document from the Engineering & Capital Improvements Department of the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, depicting the Mahaffey Theater Facility location and adjacent properties. The City is soliciting qualified vendors to provide comprehensive management and operation services for the Duke Energy Center for the Arts (DECA) complex, which encompasses the Mahaffey Theater, Center for the Arts Plaza, and adjacent properties. The Mahaffey Theater is a 2,031-seat performing arts facility that includes a grand ballroom, VIP lounge, and restaurant, with 1,106 parking spaces available. Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of five years' experience managing performing arts theaters or public assembly facilities and will be responsible for all bookings, marketing, promotion, building maintenance, parking, security, and related services. The RFP was released on December 18, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting scheduled for January 6, 2026, and written questions due by January 12, 2026. Proposals must be submitted by February 16, 2026, at 3:00 pm. The initial contract term is five years commencing October 1, 2026, with potential for two additional one-year extensions.

Proposals will be evaluated based on four criteria: corporate experience and capacity (28%), proposed programming and marketing plan (23%), proposed management plan (23%), and fee structure (20%). Vendors are required to obtain comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability of $5,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability of $1,000,000, workers' compensation, and professional liability of $1,000,000. Contracts exceeding $200,000 with more than 50 full-time employees must comply with living wage requirements. The City has established specific requirements for Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certifications, which will be evaluated as part of the proposal scoring. Big 3 Entertainment, LLC currently operates the facility under an agreement expiring September 30, 2026. The City emphasizes reducing operating subsidies and expects vendors to generate revenue through corporate sponsorships, ancillary services, and innovative marketing strategies. Per the Dali Museum lease, surface parking and parking garage access may be modified to accommodate museum expansion, though this will not affect the scope of the Mahaffey Theater Facility management agreement.