The City’s Office of Nighttime Economy this week presented to the City Council its “Sociable City Assessment,” which analyzes Sacramento’s nightlife, entertainment venues, special events and how and where people convene in Sacramento to socialize.

The Office of Nighttime Economy, which was established in October 2022, will use the findings and recommendations from the assessment to develop and implement a strategic plan for a safe, vibrant and well-managed social economy.

“Sacramento has a strong sociable economy with an active nightlife and growing list of special events,” said the Office of Nighttime Economy Manager Tina Lee-Vogt. “The assessment provides the building blocks that will help the City enhance its nightlife and social economy.”

To create the assessment, the City contracted with Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI), a nonprofit organization that has evaluated more than 80 cities.

RHI and the City conducted 26 meetings with nearly 100 people including owners of social venues, property business improvement districts, neighborhood associations, music and culture advocates and more.

The report includes an assessment of the strengths and challenges the City faces as well as an action plan with recommendations to address those challenges.

Recommendations of the assessment include:

• Permits: Centralize and create a one-stop shop for entertainment and special event permits to ensure events are properly and safely managed.
• Quality of life: Ensure that nightlife and special events enhance the quality of life for Sacramentans by addressing issues such as sound management, parking lot safety, traffic impacts and an improved pedestrian experience.
• Safety: Enhance the City’s event safety management process and create best practices guides for safe venue operations.
• Vibrancy: Support creative entrepreneurs, performers and social spaces that comprise the nighttime vibrancy.

Next steps for the City include convening a leadership summit to review the recommendations with the stakeholders.

Additionally, RHI is collaborating with economic development consultants Jon Stover & Associates to complete an analysis of the social, economic and employment contributions of dining and entertainment establishments in midtown and downtown.

The City currently oversees nearly 80 entertainment permits across Sacramento. In 2022, there were over 1,000 special event permits. The nighttime economy manager helps to ensure that this growing section of the City’s economy is managed and nurtured in most effective way possible.