Ticketing FAQ
Get the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
- Security and Privacy
- Is the SFS Web site secure?
- How do you use my personal information?
- Purchasing Tickets
- What are your services for patrons with disabilities?
- Which credit cards can I use to make a purchase?
- Can I buy tickets with cash?
- How will I get my tickets?
- What if I lose my tickets? What if I can't make a performance?
- Ticket Donation and Exchange
- What if I can’t make a performance?
- Waiter Service
- Can I pre-order my beverages?
- Center Terrace and Rush Tickets
- How can I buy Center Terrace seats?
- Do you offer Rush tickets?
- Print-at-Home Tickets
- How do I print my tickets?
- What if I don’t receive my tickets?
- I lost my tickets and lost my original email. What do I do?
- I lost my Print-at-Home ticket but still have the original email. Can I reprint my tickets?
- Why don’t I see Print-at-Home as a delivery option?
- Online Ordering Error Messages
- After completing the Order Form and hitting the "Complete Purchase Now" button, I receive an error message. What should I do?
- Why are certain subscription series not available for sale online?
- Why is there a time limit for making purchases online?
Security and Privacy
Is the SFS Web site secure?
Yes, all transactions are secured by SSL encryption. The SFS uses the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol to encrypt the information entered on your secure order form prior to transmission over the Internet. SSL is the industry standard for secure server commerce transactions. You can place your order online without fear of interception provided you are using an SSL-compliant browser, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netscape's Navigator.
How do you use my personal information?
Your privacy is important to the San Francisco Symphony. Read our privacy policy to learn more about the privacy practices of the San Francisco Symphony.
Purchasing Tickets
What are your services for patrons with disabilities?
- Accessible Seating: Accessible seating for patrons in wheelchairs is availabile in various sections of Davies Symphony Hall. To purchase wheelchair accessible seating, please contact Ticket Services at (415) 864-6000.
- Assistive Listening Devices: Sennheiser listening devices for the hearing-impaired are available at both Davies Symphony Hall (coat check room, Box Office entrance) and Flint Center. Headsets are free of charge.
- Large-print Programs: Please call (415) 503-5461 at least 5 business days prior to the performance for which you request the large-print programs, and specify the number of programs needed.
- Braille Programs: Please call (415) 503-5461 at least 21 days prior to the performance for which you request the Braille programs, and specify the number of programs needed.
Which credit cards can I use to make a purchase?
The SFS accepts Visa and MasterCard.
Can I buy tickets with cash?
You can purchase tickets with cash by visiting the SFS Box Office located, in Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 6:00 p.m.; during intermission on performance nights; and two hours prior to Sunday performances. The hour prior to each performance is reserved for business for that performance only. Holiday hours vary.
How will I get my tickets?
Subscribers: Please note all renewal and new subscription orders are shipped via first class mail. Additional delivery options are not available at this time.
Single-Ticket Buyers can choose from the following delivery options.
- Mail-Tickets ordered via mail delivery will be sent out the next business day.
- Will-Call - Tickets ordered for Will-Call are available for pickup at Davies Symphony Hall Box Office the next business day or on the day of the concert, whichever is sooner. If you are picking up your tickets on the day/evening of the concert please arrive thirty minutes in advance.
- UPS Ground - Tickets ordered via UPS Ground delivery will be sent out via UPS the next business day.
- UPS 2nd Day Air - Tickets ordered via UPS 2nd Day delivery will be sent out via UPS the next business day.
- UPS Next Day Air - Tickets ordered via UPS Next Day Air delivery will be sent out via UPS the next business day.
Ticket Donation and Exchange
Can't make a performance? Donate your tickets. If you cannot attend a performance, please call (415) 864-6000 up to one hour prior to the performance to donate your tickets. The total ticket value is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. By donating your tickets, you give another music lover the opportunity to hear a concert that would otherwise be sold out. You also enable the Orchestra to play to a full house.
Ticket Exchanges: For your convenience, we offer ticket and parking voucher exchanges for most Davies Symphony Hall concerts and ticket exchanges for San Francisco Symphony concerts at Flint Center. All exchanges are subject to availability. We encourage you to exchange your tickets as early as possible. Please note that all exchanges must be received by Ticket Services 24 hours in advance of the performance date printed on the tickets that you are exchanging. We’ll do our best to accommodate your request. Ticket exchanges in person and by mail are free for subscribers and Buyers Club members, while faxed requests will result in an $9 charge. Non-subscribers will be charged a $10 exchange fee for each in-person or mailed transaction and $19 for each fax request. Phone requests are $22. Exchange requests into a higher-priced performance or section will be charged the difference. The difference for exchange requests into a lower-priced performance or section will not be refunded, but will be considered as a donation. There are no exchanges into Special Events or concerts presented by other organizations. Student Series subscribers can exchange into most Student Series concerts (some restrictions apply). All other student exchanges require upgrading to a full-priced ticket and paying the difference in price.
Exchange In Person: For the best service, we suggest you come in person to the Symphony Box Office at Davies Symphony Hall.
Exchange By Mail: Complete a ticket exchange card, and send it along with your tickets and parking voucher with at least four choices of alternate dates for the performance you wish to attend; be sure to include your daytime phone number. Please include your Visa or MasterCard number if exchanging into a higher-priced performance. Mail to: San Francisco Symphony, Ticket Services, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Exchange By Fax: Subscribers and Single Tickets Buyers Club members will be charged $9 for each fax exchange transmission. Single-ticket buyers will be charged $19 for each fax exchange transmission. Please tear your tickets in half and fax a copy of the torn tickets, torn parking voucher, and the ticket exchange card to (415) 554-0108. Please list at least four choices of alternate dates for the performance you wish to attend; be sure to include a daytime phone number, fax number, and your Visa or MasterCard number.
Exchange By Phone: Available beginning August 31, 2009. Subscribers will be charged $12 for each phone exchange. Non-subscribers will be charged $22. Please call Symphony Ticket Services at (415) 864-6000.
Exchange Online: Ticket exchanges online is coming soon! Subscribers and Buyers Club members will be charged $12 for each online exchange transaction. Non-subscribers will be charged $22 for each online exchange transaction.
What do I do if I lose my tickets? Patrons receive instant replacements for lost tickets, free. Just call (415) 864-6000 and we will have a duplicate set waiting for you when you arrive for your concert.
Waiter Service
Can I pre-order my beverages?
At Davies Symphony Hall, patrons may pre-order beverages by calling (415) 252-1937. Beverages will be placed in the main bar area before the concert or during intermission, as requested.
Patrons may also pre-order beverages for intermission upon arrival to the Hall. Table service is provided for the convenience of our Loge patrons. Side Box patrons may also call in advance to arrange for beverages to be delivered directly to their box.
Center Terrace and Rush Tickets
How can I buy Center Terrace seats?
All Center Terrace seats for the 2009-10 season will go on sale to the general public on Monday, August 24 at 8:00am in person at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office and at 10:00am online and by phone at (415) 864-6000.
Do you offer Rush tickets?
A limited number of Rush tickets will be sold in person at the Box Office window during regular business hours on the day of select concerts.
Rush tickets are $20 each, limit two per person. Tickets may be in the Front Orchestra, Orchestra, Upper Orchestra, Rear Box, Premier 1st Tier, 1st Tier, Premier 2nd Tier, or 2nd Tier sections based on availability.
For Rush availability, please call our Rush Information Hotline at (415) 503-5577. Availability information will be recorded on this hotline by 6:00 p.m. on the day before the concert or by 6:00 p.m. on the Friday before weekend concerts.
Print-at-Home Tickets
How do I print my tickets?
Print-at-Home tickets require that you’ve installed Adobe Reader, version 7 or later, on your computer. Adobe Reader is a free program for viewing PDF files. Download Adobe Reader. Once you have Adobe Reader installed, open the PDF attachment that contains your tickets. Click "File" then "Print."
What if I don’t receive my tickets?
Typically, you should receive your tickets within 10-15 minutes of placing your order. If you do not receive your Print-at-Home tickets within 2 hours, please contact San Francisco Symphony Ticket Services at (415) 864-6000, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat noon-6pm, or Sun 2 hours prior to concerts.
I lost my tickets and lost my original email. What do I do?
Please contact San Francisco Symphony Ticket Services at (415) 864-6000, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat noon-6pm, or Sun 2 hours prior to concerts. Duplicate tickets will be held at the box office for pick up the day of the concert. Credit card and ID will be required to pick up the duplicate tickets.
I lost my Print-at-Home ticket but still have the original email. Can I reprint my tickets?
You can reprint your tickets from the original email. However each ticket’s barcode will only allow one entry into the hall. If you lost your ticket at home we suggest you reprint from the original email. If you are unsure where you lost your tickets and it’s possible someone may try to use the tickets we suggest you contact San Francisco Symphony Ticket Services at (415) 864-6000, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat noon-6pm, or Sun 2 hours prior to concerts. We will hold duplicate tickets for you to pickup the day of the concert. Having Ticket Services duplicate your tickets will invalidate the barcode on your Print-at-Home tickets. Credit card and ID will be required to pick up the duplicate tickets.
Why don’t I see Print-at-Home as a delivery option?
Print-at-Home tickets are available for most San Francisco Symphony performances at Davies Symphony Hall. Print-at-Home tickets are not available for San Francisco Symphony concerts that take place outside of Davies Symphony Hall and certain special events. Also, if you add a parking voucher to your order, we are not able to offer Print-at-Home.
Online Ordering—Error Messages
After completing the Order Form and hitting the "Complete Purchase Now" button, I receive an error message. What should I do?
If you receive an error message due to inaccurate billing information, please check your order form to ensure that all information is accurate. Please keep in mind that the address on your order form must precisely match the billing address of the credit card being used. In the event that you receive an error message due to a technical difficulty, please contact SFS Ticket Services at (415) 864-6000.
Why are certain subscription series not available for sale online?
There are a few reasons why you may not be able to subscribe to a certain series online.
We are currently unable to offer Friday Select 8 and Saturday Select 8 concerts online. If you would like to order a Friday Select 8 or Saturday Select 8 series, please call (415) 864-6000.
If you’ve selected a series that has already started, you will not be able to purchase the series online, even though seats may be available for remaining concerts. If you would like to subscribe to a series that has already begun, call us at (415) 864-6000.
For our most popular series, seating may be extremely limited. In order to ensure optimal customer service, we ask that you order by phone. Call (415) 864-6000.
Why is there a time limit for making purchases online?
When you are shopping for tickets, you are "holding" real inventory. No one else can purchase those tickets unless you release them. Due to high demand, we've implemented a time limit during the checkout process. If you exceed the posted time on the page, the tickets you are holding are released for others to purchase.