Parking at Fort Mason Center

For years, Fort Mason Center has been one of the last spots in San Francisco where you could park for free. Unfortunately, that will come to an end June 1, 2006, when the Center adopts paid parking within its gates.

Obviously, for our students, audience members, players, volunteers and staff, this will be a big change. There are lots of questions surrounding the introduction of paid parking and we hope that this "Frequently Asked Questions" will help answer most of them. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to call the BATS office at (415) 474-6776 or e-mail us at bats@improv.org.

Why paid parking?

First, it helps to understand a little bit about how Fort Mason Center is organized. The Fort Mason Foundation was created in 1976 to convert the former military buildings at Fort Mason into a cultural center. The U.S. Park Service and the federal government still own the land, but the Foundation is authorized to administer it. In 1977, Fort Mason Center opened to the public, serving as a home for approximately 30 non-profit organizations (that pay below market rate rents) and a venue for numerous cultural events.

In essence, the Fort Mason Foundation is our landlord. They set the Center policies, rentals rates, etc.

For some years, the Foundation has struggled with a tricky financial problem: how do you continue to offer relatively low rental rates and support your non-profit tenants AND also meet the ongoing maintainance needs of the buildings and piers?

Wind, water, and time have taken their toll on Fort Mason Center’s old mission revival buildings. Further deterioration jeopardizes both the physical structures and the Center's ability to provide space for resident organizations like BATS.

In all, it is estimated that more than $40 million will be necessary to seismically retrofit and restore the buildings and pavilions.

By implementing paid parking, the Center is able to guarantee a revenue stream that will allow them to do financing and fundraising and avoid the significant rent increases that would be required to do the work. Net proceeds derived from parking fees will be used for the preservation of buildings and piers at Fort Mason Center.

You can read more about the Center's decision to implement paid parking by clicking here.

When will it start?

Thursday, June 1, 2006. It will be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cashiers will be on duty 8 a.m. until midnight every day the Center is open.

How much?

The first hour is free. So if you're just stopping by to drop something off, register for a class, etc., it won't cost you anything.

While these rates are certainly more than our current free parking, they are below the rates that you would pay downtown and in many other areas around the city.

Any discounts available to students?

In an effort to minimize the impact of the new paid parking system on students, the residents negotiated with Fort Mason to offer a special parking payment plan to students here, enabling you to park for 3 hours or more for $4 rather than $8.

With a student ID from BATS (which we will provide on your first day of class) and a driver’s license, you will be able to purchase a pre-paid parking card that you can use upon entering and exiting the parking lot. (The card will cost you $10 and you can add value in $20 increments.) When you exit the lot, a maximum of $4 will be deducted from your card, however if you’ve parked for a shorter period of time and owe less money upon exiting, that lower amount will be deducted. You can then add value to your card at the parking office near the FMC gates.

On occasion, Fort Mason Center hosts large events in the facilities here which more heavily impact the parking lots, and on these days FMC will not honor the student discount and normal parking rates will apply. For a list of "high-impact periods" when the discount card cannot be used, please click here.

You can also move your car during the class break to lower the cost. Since it's only $1 for the first 90 minutes, you can park for the first half of class and exit the lot at the break (paying only $1) then drive right back in and get a new ticket. You only pay $1 more for the next 90 minutes. (Yes, we know this is ridiculous, but FMC has set up the system and we just want to lay out all the options so that you can save money.)

Click here to dowload a handout about student parking.

Where can I purchase the card?

UPDATED JUNE 12, 2006: We realize that some of you may have tried to purchase the student discount card, but found that the parking office was only open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. As of June 12, 2006, the student parking cards can now be purchased at the exit booth from 8 a.m. until midnight, 7 days a week.

Can audience members purchase the student pre-paid parking card?

Unfortunately, FMC has placed a limit on this discount offer and will not sell it to our audience members, only those who have a valid student ID. Of course, those students who have a pre-paid parking card can use it--and obtain the discount--whenever they are at the Center, including attendance at shows.

Are there other parking options?

Yes. Paid parking applies only to the areas within the gates at FMC, immediately adjacent to the buildings. The area directly outside of the Fort Mason gates, along the harbor, and the Marina Green lot will still be free. And it's just a short walk to theater.

Since the first hour of parking is free, there is no charge to enter the gates, drop off your party near Building B, and then go out and park at one of the free lots.

When parking, please note any restrictions. (We don't want you to get a ticket!) After 10 p.m., a permit is required to park in the harbor and Marina Green lots. We end our shows at 9:45 p.m. to make sure that patrons can get out to their vehicles before 10 p.m.

There is also free, unrestricted street parking along Bay Street, Marina Blvd. and other nearby residential streets after 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday.

Public transportation is also an option. Click here for routes.

How will it work, entrance- and exit-wise? Where do you pay? Will there be machines?

There are two entry gates where drivers insert a monthly pass, a credit or debit card, or pull a ticket. There is one traditional exit lane cashier and two express lanes during normal conditions. The express lanes accept pre-paid tickets or the same credit or debit card that was used at entry. In addition there will be three pay stations available during large pavilion events.

Vehicles can enter the lot at any time. There will be a cashier on duty from 8 a.m. until midnight every day that the Center is open. The exit gates will accept credit or debit cards and passes, so vehicles can exit after hours provided they do not require cashier assistance.

To cut down on the wait to exit the lot after shows, we recommend that you insert your credit card into the machine when you first enter the lot, that way you can bypass the booth and use one of the express exit lanes.

Did BATS do anything to try and stop it?

Yes. The idea to implement paid parking was first floated in 1999 and there have been numerous discussions with resident organizations over the years. BATS even suggested that we would be willing to pay additional rent to avoid paid parking. Despite the objections from resident organizations, the Foundation made the decision to implement paid parking.

Now that our landlord has made the decision, we are trying to do our best to minimize the impact on our audience, students, and players.

FMC's web site says that in creating this paid parking plan, they addressed the concerns of the resident organizations, is that true?

FMC is putting their best face on an unpopular decision. The majority of the resident organizations at the Center are strongly opposed to the introduction of paid parking. We're sympathetic to the financial challenges facing the Center, but this plan was implemented over our objections.

Will this cost BATS anything?

Yes. To minimize the financial impact on our performers, coaches, and staff, BATS will cover a portion of their parking costs. There is also the cost of time spent administering and tracking parking. Plus, there is the potential for lost revenue if fewer people take classes or attend shows. The additional parking cost is a significant new expense for our annual budget.

Is BATS worried about paid parking having a negative effect on attendance at shows and classes?

Sure, we're not thrilled about it. There's a reason we've been fighting the plan for seven years! BUT, we have also done extensive research about alternative venues and the truth is, parking is an issue (paid or otherwise) at most venues in San Francisco.

And, though renting the Bayfront Theater is one of our largest expenses each year, we do pay below market rates for the space, thanks to FMC's mission. The fact that we have one of the country's largest and nicest venues dedicated exclusively to improvisational theatre is due in large part to our location here at Fort Mason Center.

As we celebrate our 20th year in 2006, and our 10th year at the Bayfront Theater at Fort Mason Center, we believe that BATS is still one of the best entertainment and training values in the city and we hope that our audience and students agree.

Anything I can do to help?

Keep coming to BATS! If paid parking is a big concern, please take advantage of one of the nearby free parking options. Carpooling, public transportation, biking, walking, cabs...they're all options. We can't exist without you—our students and audience—so we hope you'll continue to make BATS a part of your lives Thank you for your ongoing support!