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Ticket sales up in second year of performing arts center
By M.K. Guetersloh
mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Ticket sales for events at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, now in its second year, have topped sales generated during its inaugural season.

Roughly halfway through its main stage entertainment season, ticket sales have reached $448,430 for 22,597 tickets sold. Last year, the performing arts center, formerly the Scottish Rite Temple, sold 22,135 tickets and generated $408,613 in ticket sales. The performing arts center opened in September 2006 after a $14.5 million city-funded renovation.

The main stage season offers a series of named acts appearing at the performing arts center at 110 E Mulberry St. from August to May. The main stage performances are open to the public while the performing arts center's 17 performances for its spotlight season are open to teachers and students only.

So far ticket sales have covered the $433,277 in costs to cover the 26 main stage performances, said Cultural District Director Bruce Marquis. The performing arts center's first season had 28 performances. However, Marquis said the center is looking to add possibly two more entertainment acts to the season.

"We are looking to fill some holes in our schedule and responding to opportunities that have come up to book other acts since our season was set," Marquis said.

Among those opportunities already added to the season include the Nov. 4 performance of the musical "Cats," that sold out the 1,200-seat auditorium. Also, a concert by the Indigo Girls for Feb. 1 was added mid-season. Cultural District spokesman Joel Aalberts said 622 tickets were sold for the Indigo Girls in the first two weeks of sales.

Aalberts said the student-geared spotlight series has four fewer performances compared to last year, but ticket sales for that series are up, too. As of last week, 10,028 tickets have been sold. At this time last year, 7,273 tickets had been sold.

The Cultural District receives $1.6 million in city funding to pay for operations, including operations at the performing arts center, and to pay off the bonds issued to pay for the center's renovation. Other parts to the Cultural District are the McLean County Arts Center, the Creativity Center and Festival Park.

Festival Park is currently under construction at an estimated cost of $230,000. The park will include an outdoor stage. Most of the funds for the park's construction come from the Cultural District's $3.5 million capital campaign. The fund-raiser to help pay for the renovation of the arts center and the creativity center will begin its final phase early next year, Aalberts said.

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Ticket sales for events at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, now in its second year, have topped sales generated during its inaugural season. (Pantagraph file photo, B Mosher)
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Reader comments on this story - 21 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Censorship wrote on Dec 3, 2007 1:01 AM:

" Too much cnesorship by the Pantagraph of these postings. You demand free speech and its protections, yet YOU screen these postings to the detriment of all. You will eventually reap what you are sowing! "

Galeic Storm wrote on Dec 1, 2007 5:11 PM:

" I'm going too. Great live American Irish music. Bring Your willies "

Doug Johnson, McLean County Arts Center wrote on Nov 29, 2007 10:52 AM:

" We are very pleased with the success of the BCPA. The range of programming they have presented to the community is outstanding and deserves our respect. While the McLean County Arts Center is very pleased to be partners in the Cultural District, we remain an independent 501C3 non-profit and are not recipients of funds from the 1.6 million tax revenue. With that said, we continue to encourage our communities’ participation in the all of the arts! The arts are vital to our quality of life and enriches us all. "

It would be nice... wrote on Nov 29, 2007 9:52 AM:

" It would be nice to occasionally read something about the Coliseum experiencing an increase in sales over last year... but such articles are strangely absent. All we get (and dread) are the monthly articles about continuing losses. "

well?? wrote on Nov 29, 2007 9:49 AM:

" still waiting for the money pit numbers??? "

Wahoo! wrote on Nov 29, 2007 9:04 AM:

" Great news........ummmm..........what about the U.S. Cellular Coliseum? "

Laughing Bones wrote on Nov 29, 2007 7:44 AM:

" Nice SPIN, now tell the truth! What is this newspaper anyway, a mouth piece for a failing municipal government? "

Sign wrote on Nov 29, 2007 6:57 AM:

" Did you see the sign out front of this building. I thought that we were suppose to make the Main Street Corridor beautiful. What happened there. Did somebody miss the boat. "

awesome wrote on Nov 29, 2007 6:04 AM:

" THis place is awesome. If you haven't been, check it out! Thanks for bringing the Indigo Girls! "

The acoustics are great, a must hear. wrote on Nov 29, 2007 5:00 AM:

" BEST place to see a show, PERIOD! Did anyone see CATS? (excellent), Robert Cray? (sweeeet guitar playing soul at it's finest)...Keep them coming! Something in town to be proud of. The acoustics are great, a must hear. "

Huh wrote on Nov 28, 2007 9:10 PM:

" Did anyone read the article? I thought I read that this was subsidized to the tune of $1.6M from the city just like the Coliseum but this gets all fluffy positive press. Am I missing something? "

Taxpayer wrote on Nov 28, 2007 6:49 PM:

" Sales up het its a success! Know where we can increase revenue? Raise the price of tickets and save a swimming pool or a golf course? "

good wrote on Nov 28, 2007 6:26 PM:

" good to see this positive thing for blm "

Numbers again wrote on Nov 28, 2007 6:10 PM:

" I think the numbers are based on a performance calendar not calendar year "

Numbers wrote on Nov 28, 2007 6:09 PM:

" Last year's number are for the entire season, this year's numbers are only for half the season so far. This year's number may include tickets for spring shows already sold, but they're still selling those. They've already beat last year and still have half a season to keep on selling. "

Thank you Judy wrote on Nov 28, 2007 5:12 PM:

" She did something good...and well appreciated. "

Great Job, BCPA wrote on Nov 28, 2007 4:34 PM:

" A real asset to the community, and a great mix of affordable entertainment. Not to mention the dozens of rentals which bring in rental income. "

Math wrote on Nov 28, 2007 3:27 PM:

" I like the place, but I see a problem with this report. 9/07-12/06 ticket sales averaged $102,000 a month. This year the average seems to be about $41,000 a month. Am I missing something? "

Good to hear wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:45 PM:

" I am going to Galeic Storm (great Irish pub music) here in Febuary. I can't wait. "

Wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:12 PM:

" Look!!! They're not losing 2.5 million a month!!!! It can be done in downtown Bloomington. "

MatthewPaulLyons wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:53 PM:

" Good for them. All you can as for with a new facility like this is to have each year perform better than the last. It may not pay for itself overnight but it is on the right track to get there and hopefully become a self sufficient positive contribution to the community. "
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