The Tobin Center (San Antonio, Mart, Jefferson: hotel, home, buying)

[smitty12]

Municipal Auditorium will have a new name — the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts — in honor of a local family known for its arts philanthropy and the result of what's believed to be the largest single arts-related donation in San Antonio history. The Tobin Endowment will commit $15 million to the effort to transform the underutilized but beloved auditorium into an acoustically appropriate home for the symphony, opera and ballet companies.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/tobin_namewill_go_onmunicipalauditorium_97452889.h tml (broken link)

http://media.mysanantonio.com/images/TOBIN+CENTER+650.jpg (broken link)

[xsa210tx]

This is great for San Antonio!

I was wondering what was going on. Didn't even know what a big thing it was when I walked right in front of the Municipal Auditorium today! I saw about 20 valet guys in bowties in front huddling together with their supervisor. And I did see a large Tobin banner and some tall guy in a tuxedo at the door's entrance.

I heard on the news that Tommy Lee Jones was in attendance.

Oh, and who are these Tobin people with all these millions to spend and give? I sure wish I was in their will.

[LiveUrban]

I spent an hour this past weekend in the war veteran memorial area in front of the auditorium. It was very relaxing. I marveled at the auditorium as well as the main AT&T building in that area.

I'm excited about the new upgrades there!

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by xsa210tx

Oh, and who are these Tobin people with all these millions to spend and give? I sure wish I was in their will.

The Tobin endowment focuses heavily on the arts: theMcNay Art Museum
There's a Tobin collection in the McNay and give grants to non profits and the legacy continues on through the endowment.

[RGJ]

I guess this is a good thing, but the renderings look like they totally transform Municipal Auditorium. And, I'm not sure I like that

[flourpower]

Has anybody been to a performance at the Tobin Center? I am looking to purchase tickets for an upcoming show, and would like advice on best seating options. I understand the seats along the sides have poor visibility? Anyone with experience at the Tobin?

[nanannjen]

We were just there last night for Bill Cosby. We were in the balcony, so we were a ways away from everything. It's in the shape of a U, with the mezzanine and balcony at the bottom of the U. There are 3 levels of boxes, and the boxes closest to the stage seemed like they could be obstructed view for some shows. The chairs face the opposite side, but they're not fixed - they can be angled. It would be fine for something like what we saw, where he was in the middle of the stage - not sure how it would work for a play. If it's the symphony, I think it'd be fine on the side.

As far the the entire experience - I have to admit, I have a bias towards the Majestic - I volunteer usher there. The Tobin is a fabulous theater, but IMO it's a tad sterile - there's no intimacy to the theater. And the seats - they're brand new, so I have to take that into account. But they're hard! By the end of the show I was very ready to get up!

We thought about prepaying for parking until I found that they wanted to charge me a buck just to email me the ticket. I got mad at that and said the heck with it. We got there around 7:20 for an 8:00 show, and parked the the lot at Martin (3rd) and Jefferson ($10). The lot was 3/4 empty at that time. It was a short walk to the Tobin from there. By the time we got out after the show (after a bathroom stop) the traffic was cleared and it was a piece of cake to get out.

After the show, the line for valet was humongous! I wouldn't recommend that unless you're planning on sticking around awhile after the show. The bars were open after the show, FYI.

Don't know if that helps, since I didn't get to the mezzanine or the floor.

[blizzrd]

I was there last night for the Coz too. It was a blast. We were in a grand tier box. I will say that the chairs and table between the chairs felt a little cheap/hotel-like but that's just me being picky. Parking was a breeze and the place is beautiful inside and out.

[Labamigo]

I went on line to buy tickets for an upcoming show and noticed there is a $20.00 "convenience charge" for buying tickets on line.

I'd rather drive downtown and go to their box office. But no doubt there will be a "walk up fee".

I wish they'd just set the ticket price to include everything and be done with it. Of course that'd make the shows seem more expensive. Better to sneak those charges in as fees.

[steve807]

Extra charges are becoming common. I bought a ticket on American Air the other day and there was a charge for being assigned (their choice) a specific seat with the on-line purchase rather than be assigned one at the gate. This is for the cheap seats.