Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 1/1/23 — Page 3

jo said: "I wonder if there is no error on the stats submitted by The Lion King?

THE LION KING
MINSKOFF

$4,315,264 (gross receipts for 9 shows)

$2,590,306 (gross receipts for 7 shows)

$1,724,958 (this is the differential between the 2 weeks -- did the show average $ 862 Thousand each for each additional show the past week? Or assuming it was a trend for the last week, did it average $ 479 thousand per day in the past week? It was averaging much less then $ 400 thousand per day in the past)

******************

$284.89 ( did average price exceed the top price charged of $199 - does not seem logical? Especially so that it did not hit 100% in attendance)

$199.00

*****************

15,147 (it did not even hit full capacity)

15,264



Just wondering if there is an error in the stats submitted to Broadway League or as declared by Broadway League?"

I thought so too but not sure as I know Lion King uses Ticketmaster and they tend to have dynamic pricing especially for premium seats. I think the error is the top premium price is not $199 but more likely $600-$700.

From looking at Lion King's grosses https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/THE-LION-KING I noticed the top ticket price is all $199. The week before its average ticket price was $226 but top ticket is listed as $199. I have a strong feeling the top ticket was definitely higher than $199.

I know Minskoff has more seats than the Winter Garden but it is amazing that a long-running show with no above the title stars was able to beat Music Man starring Hugh Jackman (which we all know was charging $600 orchestra seats) ... presuming the Lion King numbers are correct.

It’s Christmas week extortion in the recent-ish Premium pricing Broadway. Admittedly 25 years ago, before premium prices, I took my 5 and 6 year old sons to see it Christmas week matinee just after it opened. Got the tickets way in advance (saw that Time Magazine cover based on Minneapolis tryout) and had first row center mezzanine for the same price as the most expensive seat in the house…I seem to recall that the tickets were like $80 each. My point is not ordinary price inflation…it is the premium price scheme and how on a holiday week, 23rd row of too far on the side can still be a premium seat. People are willing to pay it — it’s Christmas — so who am I to complain. Since I am almost never in NYC for Christmas week (or Easter week), it doesn’t impact me. It still seems out of control.

A thousand years ago, I read that an average casual it regular (no -tourist) theatergoer attended 4 or 5 shows a year. I sometimes wonder if that number or performances is reduced to 2 or 3 because of how much it costs them to go. If there is any validity to that logic, it may help to explain a little bit why no one is attending shows that have gotten excellent reviews. Or is the lion’s share of that due to Covid and changed patterns due to yet more at-home entertainment options.