History
Bayfront Center Opens
The Bayfront Center Complex first opened its doors in January of 1965 to four tapings of Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour, the American Idol of yesteryear...Read More
Theater Renovation
The sloped floor of the theater is dirt today, the ceiling a temporary ply- wood cover. The lobby and lounge have been demolished, and the dress..Read More
Class Acts Educational Series
In 1993, The Class Acts Educational Series was created to benefit Pinellas County Schools. At first, there were roughly five performances a year with an attendance..Read More
Arena Demolition
In December of 2004, the Bayfront Center closed it’s doors one final time. Demolishing the beloved Arena created room for improvements to the Theater, including the..Read More
New Management
In 2011, Big3 Entertainment was granted managing rights to the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater. Big3’s CEO and Chairman, Bill Edwards privately..Read More
More Renovations
2015 brought a new round of renovations to the existing Mahaffey Theater structure, turning it into the venue you see today! This round of renovations focused..Read More
Located in the heart of beautiful Downtown St. Petersburg, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater is a 2,031-seat cultural jewel featuring elegant ballroom space, spectacular waterfront views, and European box-style seating. Just steps away from the culturally vibrant Downtown and minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-famous museums, The Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and international artists and performances – Broadway, classical, pop, rock, comedy, dance, family, and the renowned Florida Orchestra. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs.
The facility first opened in the Spring of 1965 as part of the Bayfront Center entertainment complex. It was first renovated in 1987-1988 and at that time was renamed The Mahaffey Theater for the Performing Arts, in recognition of the Mahaffey family who contributed significantly to the capital campaign.
In 2006, Progress Energy and the City of St. Petersburg announced a 20-year partnership to rename the space the Progress Energy Center for the Arts which would include the newly renovated Mahaffey Theater, The Center Plaza Waterfront Park, and would also eventually include the new home of the Salvador Dali Museum. In 2012, the theater was renamed the Duke Energy Center for the Arts.
Its beautiful setting, unparalleled entertainment and proximity to the lively downtown St. Petersburg area make Duke Energy Center for the Arts – The Mahaffey, THE live performance venue in the Tampa Bay area.