Management Services, Duke Energy Center for the Arts

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive management and operation services for the Duke Energy Center for the Arts (DECA) complex, which includes the Mahaffey Theater, Center for the Arts Plaza, and adjacent properties. The solicitation requires vendors with a minimum of five years' experience managing performing arts theaters or public assembly facilities to handle programming, marketing, promotion, building maintenance, parking, security, and event management. The Mahaffey Theater is a 2,031-seat performing arts facility with a grand ballroom, VIP lounge, restaurant, and 1,106 parking spaces. Proposals will be evaluated based on four key criteria: corporate experience and capacity (28%), proposed programming and marketing plan (23%), proposed management plan (23%), and fee structure (20%). The RFP was released on December 18, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting scheduled for January 6, 2026, and questions due by January 12, 2026. The final proposal deadline is February 16, 2026, at 3:00 pm, with an initial contract term of five years commencing October 1, 2026, and potential for two additional one-year extensions.

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. The current facility operator is Big 3 Entertainment, LLC, who manages the facility under an agreement expiring September 30, 2026. Vendors must obtain comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability ($5,000,000 per occurrence), automobile liability ($1,000,000), workers' compensation, professional liability ($1,000,000), and several other specific insurance types. For contracts exceeding $200,000, vendors with more than 50 full-time employees must comply with living wage requirements. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the City emphasizes reducing operating subsidies and expects vendors to generate revenue through corporate sponsorships, ancillary services, and innovative marketing strategies. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's online procurement portal, with a focus on developing strategic five-year programming and marketing plans within four months of agreement execution.