Policies & FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about our venue. For any other questions, please call the box office at 805-756-4849.
The Performing Arts Center offers many accessibility services to ensure your experience at Performing Arts Center is an enjoyable one. Learn more about our accessibility services.
The Performing Arts Center strictly adheres to all local and state laws regarding alcohol consumption. Wine and beer, other assorted beverages, and snacks may be purchased at various concession booths throughout the Performing Arts Center. Guests should expect to be carded for appropriate identification. The Performing Arts Center reserves the right to refuse service or admission to anyone. Most performances allow beverages purchased from concessions inside the theater.
No outside food or beverages, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are permitted inside the venue.
Only service animals are welcomed inside the PAC. Please refer to our accessibility page for more information on service animals.
For events in Harold Miossi Hall, lobby doors open one hour prior to the event start time. We recommend that guests arrive at least 30 minutes prior to ensure enough time for parking, picking up tickets if needed, and ordering from concessions. For events in Spanos Theatre, doors open 30 mins prior to the event start time.
Any bags larger than 12”x12” or backpacks will not be allowed in the theater. Bags are subject to inspections upon entry.
Tickets for events at Performing Arts Center may be purchased at the following authorized points of purchase:
- Online at pacslo.org.
- In-person at the Cal Poly Ticket Office located on the Grand Avenue side of the Performing Arts Center.
- By phone from the Cal Poly Ticket Office at 805-756-4849.
Please beware of other online resale websites claiming to be the official site to purchase tickets for our events (Vivid Seats, StubHub, Ticketmaster, Event Tickets Center, SeatGeek). If you purchase tickets from another website or ticket broker, we cannot guarantee that those tickets are legitimate and the prices are generally significantly marked up. If there is a problem with tickets purchased from such companies, we will not be able to assist you.
The Cal Poly Ticket Office is located on the Grand Avenue side of the PAC. Five minute parking is available in front of the box office. Check our Box Office page for hours and contact information.
Unless otherwise stated or requested by our presenting performers, the Performing Arts Center’s policy is that guests must be ages 5 and up. Parties who arrive with guests younger than the indicated age-appropriateness or children who cause a disruption may be asked to leave the performance without a refund. All guests regardless of age must have a ticket.
- Please turn off or silence all electronic devices during performances.
- The use of recording equipment and cameras (with or without flash) during performances is prohibited unless authorized by the artists. Please consult an usher for photography restrictions in effect for the performance.
- Patrons who consume alcoholic beverages must do so in a responsible manner. The Performing Arts Center reserves the right to deny entrance or remove anyone who appears to be intoxicated.
- Please respect your fellow patrons by refraining from loud conversations or otherwise inappropriate behavior. Such behaviors may result in removal from the event without a refund.
- Refrain from wearing clothing or accessories which contain profanity, conveys membership or affiliation with street gangs or other similarly oriented group or association prone to violence, criminal acts, or hate and racially biased based beliefs.
- Solicitations for money or seeking contributions for any purpose is not permitted.
- Please occupy the seat for which you have a ticket.
- Please be considerate and don’t block the sightlines of fellow patrons or stand in aisles during performances.
- Patrons shall comply with requests from venue staff regarding venue operational and emergency procedures.
- Smoking/vaping and use of tobacco, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited throughout the campus including at the Performing Arts Center and in its parking lots. View Cal Poly’s Smoking and Tobacco Free Policy.
Concessions opens one hour prior to event start time for Harold Miossi Hall events unless otherwise specified. Spanos Theatre concessions are only available if there is an intermission for the performance.
No outside food or beverages, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are permitted inside the venue.
Beverages purchased from concessions are allowed in the theater unless otherwise specified.
The Performing Arts Center is located on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Our address is:
1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Get Directions
Cal Poly Campus Map
Parking is free for all patrons for ticketed events at the Performing Arts Center. Attendants or signage will direct you where to park in the Grand Ave Parking Structure. For events, with high attendance, you may be directed to park in the overflow structure.
The top level of the structure is available for patrons with disability placards/license plates and donors of a certain level. The bottom level of the structure has electric vehicle charging stations if needed.
For all parking questions, please email tickets@calpoly.edu or call the Cal Poly Ticket Office at 805-756-4849.
The Performing Arts Center offers a number of rental spaces for performances, banquets, meetings, and other events. Availability is limited as the university and resident arts organizations with annual holds have first priority for booking.
Items found in the Performing Arts Center are brought to our Lost and Found, located in the Administrative Office of the PAC. Please call the Cal Poly Ticket Office at 805-756-4849 to inquire. Items may take up to two business days to be submitted and are kept in our Lost and Found for one month.
All media access requests can be directed to Nicole Pitman, our marketing manager, at 805-756-7571 or npitman@calpoly.edu.
The Performing Arts Center is located on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Our address is:
1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Get Directions
Cal Poly Campus Map
Parking is free for all patrons for ticketed events at the Performing Arts Center. Attendants or signage will direct you where to park in the Grand Ave Parking Structure. For events, with high attendance, you may be directed to park in the overflow structure.
The top level of the structure is available for patrons with disability placards/license plates and donors of a certain level. The bottom level of the structure has electric vehicle charging stations if needed.
For all parking questions, please email tickets@calpoly.edu or call the Cal Poly Ticket Office at 805-756-4849.
The use of recording equipment and cameras (with or without flash) during performances is prohibited unless authorized by the artists. Please consult an usher for photography restrictions in effect for the performance.
By attending an event at the Performing Arts Center, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media.
For safety reasons, guests are refused entry if they are in possession of prohibited items. Items are subject for review by campus police. If a guest is found inside the venue with a prohibited item, the item will be confiscated and the guest may be ejected from the facility.
The following items are NOT permitted:
- Aerosol cans
- Animals/pets
- Audio/video recording equipment
- Balloons or related items
- Chains
- Illegal drugs
- Laser pens and pointers
- Noisemaking devices
- Outside liquids
- Professional photography equipment, trips, and monpods
- Poles/sticks to display flags and/or banners
- Unapproved pamphlets, fliers, handbills, etc...
- Weapons of any kind (i.e. pepper spray, tear gas, handcuffs, stun guns, etc.)
Any other Item deemed inappropriate or dangerous by the venue in its sole discretion. This list is subject to change at any time by management. Thank you for your cooperation.
If you are given a promo code to enter for a performance. Click the 'Buy Tickets' button on the event. When on the seatmap page, click the 'Promotions' link to enter the code.
General Admission Seating Policy: Guests may sit in any seat of their choosing, provided that the section is open to the audience and staffed with ushers.
Reserved Seating Policy: Guests will be escorted to the seats indicated on their tickets. Guests who wish to change their seats will be directed to the Cal Poly Ticket Office to make the exchange.
All guests entering the Performing Arts Center are subject to visual and bag inspections.
Most events offer discounted prices for students of any age. Learn more here about student discounts.
We do not offer refunds or exchanges. If you are a subscriber, we are able to make exchanges for you. We encourage you to exchange your tickets as early as possible. Exchange requests must be received by the Cal Poly Ticket Office no later than 6:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the event. Exchange requests for a higher-priced performance or section will be charged the difference. Exchange requests for a lower-priced section will be considered a donation or can be applied to additional ticket purchases in the same transaction. Exchanges of discounted tickets require upgrading to a full-price ticket and paying the difference in price. Exchanges must be completed 24 hours prior to the event start time, or by 6:00pm the last business day before the event, whichever comes first. Tickets may also be donated by emailing tickets@calpoly.edu up to one hour prior to the event start time.
Please beware of other online websites claiming to be the official site to purchase tickets for our events (StubHub, Ticketmaster, Event Tickets Center, SeatGeek). If you purchase tickets from another website or ticket broker we cannot guarantee that those tickets are legitimate. If there is a problem with tickets purchased from such companies, we will not be able to assist you.
The Performing Arts Center incorporates two main venues: the Christopher Cohan Center (which includes Harold Miossi Hall, Philips Hall, and the Pavilion) and Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre.
When events start to fill up, Limited View seats may become available for purchase. These seats have slightly obstructed view of the stage, such as a railing or glass panel in view. Limited View seats are sold at a discounted rate.