“Bar Brawl Spills Into Court As Broadway Theaters Signal Last Call”

ATG is BIG on selling bottles of champagne to people at shows in London and even have champagne vending machines set up. I actually got emails from them this morning to preorder intermission drinks/snacks for shows I have this week and there was a photo id never noticed before, with a bottle of champagne and a movie theater sized bucket of popcorn.

 

I swear to God, if they start selling popcorn at Broadway shows…

While I appreciate the effort ATG puts into cultivating their concessions, I can't stand how they push them at venues on Broadway. Not that other venues are much better, but not as bad. That said, they're doing Sweet Hospitality wrong, especially as they forked out $250K to upgrade the spaces in the Jujamcyn theatres. Leaves a foul taste.

ATG sees value in concessions because it's one of the only revenue streams that the show doesn't get, and they feel that there's untapped potential for this on Broadway. (See also: concessions at concerts and movie theaters.) Whether it works out in the way they want remains to be seen, but running concessions in-house instead of via a 3rd-party vendor is a smart thing for that mindset. If ATG sees good results, other theatre owners might take a page from their book.

I wouldn't be shocked if this ends with ATG buying Sweet Hospitality Group. And then they can monopolize concessions in the theatre space + collect all the data.

I would say a financial settlement out of court is more likely than a buyout. I don't think ATG would want all of the aspects that come with a buyout of a business like this.

ATG is so clearly in the wrong here. Obviously they are trying to end the contract early because of Cabaret, but they should have just tried to enter into some type of deal with Sweet Hospitality for that one show, and then not renew the overall contract in 2025.

Lot666 said: ""a half bottle of Moët & Chandon, 3-course light meal and intermission sweet treat”

I don't want to be in a Broadway theatre that serves a three-course meal to patrons, light or otherwise."

Just wait until they add slot machines!