Bass Concert Hall

For other venues, teams and events nearby, see the Austin guide.

Austin's largest theater, on the UT campus

Bass Concert Hall is the flagship theater of Texas Performing Arts, the University of Texas at Austin's presenting organization, and the largest theater in Austin. It sits at 2350 Robert Dedman Drive on the east side of campus, directly across from Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The hall is where the Broadway in Austin touring season plays, and it also books concerts, comedy, dance, orchestras and UT commencement ceremonies.

The hall seats about 2,900 (the university lists capacity at up to 3,000). For a Broadway tour, the best seats are in the center of the orchestra, roughly a third of the way back, and the front rows of the first balcony; both put you level with or slightly above the stage at a comfortable distance. The formal name is the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Concert Hall, and it opened in 1981 on the former site of Clark Field, where Texas Longhorns baseball played from 1928 to 1974.

How the seating is arranged

The auditorium has three seating areas stacked in front of a proscenium stage (a stage framed by an arch, as in most Broadway houses):

• Orchestra: the main floor, closest to the stage, with an adjustable orchestra pit in front. Its seats were replaced in 2012–2014.
• First balcony: the lower of the two balconies, the middle height in the room.
• Second balcony: the upper balcony, the highest and farthest seats in the room.

In a 2021 renovation, Texas Performing Arts replaced all 1,241 original balcony seats and rebuilt the balcony side sections. Rows that used to face the side walls were curved toward the stage, so the side balcony seats that once had awkward angles now point at the action. The building has six public levels; Level 5 is reserved for the Texas Inner Circle lounge for members.

Exact section names and row letters vary by event on the seating map, so compare the map for your performance with the guidance below rather than relying on a generic chart.

Best seats at Bass Concert Hall

Broadway tours

Touring musicals are staged for a proscenium, so the center matters more than closeness. The middle of the orchestra gives eye-level views of the choreography and faces without craning your neck. The front rows of the first balcony are the favorite of many regulars: the elevation shows full stage pictures and floor patterns that are hidden from the low front rows. The very first rows of the orchestra put you close but looking up, with the pit between you and the stage when it is open.

Concerts and comedy

For a singer or comedian, closeness counts more, so the forward and middle orchestra are the strongest seats. The sound is designed to carry to the balconies, and the hall's 2007 renovation was aimed at its acoustics, so a balcony seat is a reasonable value for music.

Seats to approach with care

• Far side seats in the front orchestra: a sharp angle that can cut off one side of the set.
• The last rows of the orchestra: in any house with balconies above, the back rows can lose the top of tall scenery; the front of the first balcony is often the better seat at a similar distance.
• Upper rows of the second balcony: the farthest seats in the hall, best for budget-minded viewers who bring binoculars.

Demand rises for weekend evening performances and the final week of a Broadway tour's run; midweek performances usually have the widest choice of seats.

Parking and getting to Bass Concert Hall

As of 2026, the closest parking is the San Jacinto Garage, which Texas Performing Arts recommends entering from Trinity Street. Spaces are reserved and paid in advance through the UT parking portal. Lot 39, a surface lot about a five- to six-minute walk away, is the alternative and is paid through the ParkMobile app. Valet is offered at the front of the hall for Broadway in Austin performances and some other events.

Accessible parking is on Trinity Street and in the San Jacinto Garage. Rideshare drop-off and pickup is on DeLoss Dodds Way in front of the hall. The operator suggests arriving at least 60 minutes early, and campus traffic is heavier when a stadium or arena event overlaps. CapMetro buses serve the campus; use the CapMetro trip planner for routes. Check the event's Know Before You Go email for the current details.

Bag policy and house rules

As of 2026, Bass Concert Hall uses touchless security screening: you scan your ticket and walk through carrying your belongings. Clear bags are not required, but large purses, backpacks and luggage are prohibited, and all bags are subject to search. The prohibited list also includes outside food and drink (including water), tablets and laptops, recording devices, cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks and e-cigarettes.

• Tickets: everyone needs a ticket regardless of age.
• Payments: the hall is cashless.
• Doors: the lobby typically opens 90 minutes before curtain and the theater 30 minutes before.
• Accessibility: request accessible seating when buying (look for the ADA icon) or through the ticket office; assistive listening devices and T-coil loops are available at every Bass Concert Hall event.

Read the venue policies before you go, since rules can change by production.

History and renovations

Bass Concert Hall opened in 1981 as part of the UT Performing Arts Center, now Texas Performing Arts, which also runs the neighboring McCullough Theatre and Bates Recital Hall. A renovation of about 15 million dollars that began in 2007 improved the acoustics and added the glass facade, a five-story lobby atrium, more restrooms and a sixth-level deck with campus views. The orchestra seats were replaced next, and the 2021 project rebuilt both balconies, reworked the lobbies, moved the sound-mixing position and upgraded the air filtration. In the year before the pandemic the hall welcomed about 286,000 visitors, the most of any Austin theater in 2019.

Sources

• Texas Performing Arts – Bass Concert Hall
• Texas Performing Arts – Venue policies
• Texas Performing Arts – Maps and directions
• Texas Performing Arts – Bass Concert Hall renovation
• Texas Performing Arts – Accessibility
• Wikipedia – University of Texas Performing Arts Center
• CultureMap Austin – 3 million dollar renovation (2021)