The San Francisco Signal, an expansion women’s volleyball team, is making the 111-year-old Bill Graham Civic Auditorium their home venue, the team announced Friday. This means that for the first time in decades, this historic San Francisco landmark will regularly host a professional sports team for its January 2027 debut. This is a massive play for the League One Volleyball franchise.
The Historic Home Court
The auditorium, built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, has primarily hosted concerts and conferences for decades. But it’s no stranger to sports: the Golden State Warriors called it home for parts of three seasons in the 1960s after moving from Philadelphia. The Bay Area’s women’s tennis tournament started here in 1971, with Billie Jean King sweeping both singles and doubles. And the San Francisco Pioneers, the region’s first women’s basketball team, also played there from 1979-81. Signal president and co-owner Stephanie Martin isn’t holding back, calling it “at the top of our list of places to play since we won the franchise – it really ticks all the boxes.”
A New Era for Women’s Sports
The Signal isn’t just playing in a cool venue; they’re aiming big. Martin envisions a 4,000-capacity setup, with the court laid out where concert floor seats usually are, wanting fans to feel *every single moment* of the action. “Volleyball is a show; it is an absolute show,” Martin said. “Every play is a highlight. So to be in a place where we can really celebrate the game and give fans the ability to have that proximity to the court, that’s why we’re excited.” This move is all about being in the “heart of San Francisco,” especially with the city buzzing about women’s sports. Martin isn’t shy about their long-term goals either: “Our long-term goal is to be like the Valkyries or Bay FC. We want to be a defining women’s sports franchise in the U.S.”
The LOVB season kicks off in January 2027, and the Signal is one of four expansion teams ready to go. While season tickets haven’t officially hit the market, Martin said they’ve nearly sold out their deposit list, and they’re opening group deposit sales today! If you’re in the Bay, you’ll want to jump on that. This isn’t just about volleyball; it’s about a historic venue coming alive again and a franchise looking to dominate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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