After transforming Pier 80 into Facebook’s ultimate holiday party venue, NPU recognized the terminal’s untapped event potential. NPU didn’t see a 60-acre industrial site; we saw a blank canvas capable of hosting something on a much larger cultural scale.
With that vision in mind, the NPU team went big and approached Goldenvoice – best known as the promoters behind the renowned Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals.
What started as a conversation about possibilities quickly evolved into a partnership that would reshape San Francisco’s festival landscape. Together, we imagined a new kind of music experience for the city: Portola.
Of course, turning a working port into a two-day electronic-music festival is no small feat. It demands trust, coordination across city agencies, and operational expertise at the highest level. It is in these areas that NPU has built its reputation over years of stewarding San Francisco’s most ambitious cultural gatherings.
That foundation is why Portola thrives, and it’s also why we’re ready to step out from behind the curtain. With the launch of NPU Live, our new public-facing events brand, we’re putting our name on the work and inviting audiences to see what comes next.
Pier 80 Is Not a Typical Venue
Pier 80 is the only pier in San Francisco that can transfer cargo directly from ship to rail. It is a working industrial site, not an event venue. Turning it into Portola, a festival that draws tens of thousands of fans every September, requires more than imagination. It takes navigating port regulations, maritime schedules, noise ordinances, and public safety requirements.
- In 2022, the inaugural Portola drew 30,000 fans
- By 2024, attendance had surged to more than 42,000 per day
- In 2025, the city is preparing for 45,000 fans
That scale is only possible because of the trust and systems we have built, transforming a cargo terminal into a temporary cultural city.
A Catalyst for San Francisco
Portola is not just entertainment, it is economic fuel. Tens of thousands of fans stay in hotels, eat at local restaurants, and take public transit, injecting millions into the city. The festival also repositions the southern waterfront as a cultural destination. Because of our relationships with the city, we ensure these benefits happen responsibly, with noise mitigation and community engagement built into every plan.
NPU Launches NPU Live
For years, fans partied in the Bay’s most iconic spaces without knowing who transformed them. That changes now. With the launch of NPU Live, our name is no longer behind the curtain; it is front and center.
From the Palace of Fine Arts to SVN West to The Old San Francisco Mint, we have turned historic landmarks into cultural playgrounds and unforgettable experiences. With NPU Live, we are putting our name on the work and inviting audiences to see what comes next.
As CEO Jordan Langer puts it:
“We’ve never been afraid to push limits, take risks, and redefine what a space can be. NPU Live is the next evolution of that vision, pairing extraordinary venues with art that inspires.”
Audiences can expect groundbreaking concerts, multi-venue festivals, and massive cultural productions.
Best Portola Yet
The lineup for Portola has gotten bigger and better with each year, and 2025 is no exception:
Headliners by Year:
- 2022 – Flume, The Chemical Brothers
- 2023 – Skrillex, Eric Prydz Presents HOLO
- 2024 – RÜFÜS DU SOL, Justice, Disclosure, M.I.A., and more
- 2025 – LCD Soundsystem, The Chemical Brothers (DJ set), Christina Aguilera, The Prodigy, Peggy Gou, Moby, and more
Portola 2025 happens September 20–21 at Pier 80. It is proof that when you combine vision, relationships, and expertise, you can reimagine public infrastructure without sacrificing safety or operations.
Your Turn
Pier 80 is not just for Portola. With NPU Live, we are unlocking San Francisco’s most distinctive spaces for cultural use at a scale nobody else can touch.
Ready to reimagine what your event can be? Connect with NPU and see what is possible when creativity and trust converge.
Ready to put this all into action in one of our spaces? Contact NPU to schedule your walkthrough today!