From SF Gate:

After decades of basically being a one-presenter town, a third set of concert promoters has planted their flag in San Francisco by nailing down the lease at a key venue. That maneuver has set the stage for a battle royal among three competitive contenders for concert bucks in the Bay Area.

The reason for the renewed focus on midsize venues? In part, it’s because the music industry is producing fewer new major attractions. That, in turn, means that the bulk of the business may be moving away from massive arenas and amphitheaters.  “We’re seeing more and more bands that can draw 2,000, 3,000 people,” agrees Another Planet’s Gregg Perloff.