The HJK Arena
Our Historic Arena in Oakland, CA
The largest indoor venue at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts is The HJK Arena, a 25,000 square foot arena space. In its initial 90 year run, the arena space hosted countless Christmas pageants, roller derby tournaments, concerts, and speeches. True to its history, this is where Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech on the 100 year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Performers include James Brown, Elvis, The Grateful Dead (57 times), Blink 182, and The Police. The HJK Arena floor suits larger dinners, sporting events, graduations, and concerts, with a floor seating capacity of nearly 2,000.
The HJK Arena:
25,000 square feet of open space
60 foot ceilings
Ground floor access
Options for basic/advanced A/V capabilities
Optional modular stage
Catering access and services available
The hjk Arena Floor Plan
Stories at the hjk Arena
Inside the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts are 5 historic venues, none more glamorous than the Calvin Simmons Theater. The proscenium theater was originally designed in the Beaux Arts style of 1915 by architect Henry Hornbostel - a former student of École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Like other Beaux-Arts buildings – Oakland + San Francisco’s City Hall for example – the room features classical details and sculptural reliefs.