Maritime Hall To Close

With last year's rent nearly tripled, San Francisco's 1,800-capacity, art deco Maritime Hall is closing October 31 after six years. According to Boots Hughston, president of 2b1, the production company, the Sailors Union of the Pacific raised the rent to more than $20,000 a month.

"We've had sold-out shows and don't make any money," he told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I don't mind breaking even, but I don't like losing."

Hughston said he plans to open a comparable new venue soon at "half the rent." Among the acts that performed at Maritime are Ozomatli, Linkin Park and String Cheese Incident.