Ruth Eckerd Hall

Ruth Eckerd Hall, located in Clearwater, FL, was founded in 1977 when a 38-acre parcel of land was donated to the City of Clearwater by June Baumgardner Gelbart in honor of Richard B. Baumgardner, Sr., with the condition that the land be used for a performing arts center. Local philanthropist Jack Eckerd donated to the cause and purchased naming rights for the venue for his beloved Ruth. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in 1979 and the Hall was completed in October 1983, opening on October 16, 1983, with the first official performance featuring the Suzuki Children of Japan.

Designed by the prestigious Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Ruth Eckerd Hall is a 73,000 square-foot facility with near perfect acoustics that have received rave reviews from artists, technicians and audience members since opening in 1983. Combined with state of the art equipment, comfortable amenities and world class entertainment, it’s no wonder that it has been recognized as one of Tampa Bay’s best concert halls numerous times as well as a finalist for Pollstar’s Theater of the Year twice. In 2003, the Hall’s audience chamber received a complete refurbishment, its 2,180 seats were reconfigured to accommodate more patrons with disabilities, and lobby and restrooms were expanded.

Ruth Eckerd Hall has continental-style seating. Almost every patron prizes a center seat and continental-style provides the maximum possible. There are no support columns, no obstructed views. Seating is sloped and staggered. For safety and comfort, the aisle space is wider than traditional layouts; entry and exit can be made while patrons remain seated. There are 14 sets of double doors leading out from the audience chamber. With this configuration, a full house can be cleared in a matter of minutes.