Touring Shows Impact Local Economies

The economic impact of Broadway touring shows on the metropolitan areas where they played during the 2008-2009 season is estimated to be be $3.35 billion, according to a report released by The Broadway League.

“Touring Broadway adds to the quality of life in American cities, as well as their economic well being,” notes The Broadway League’s Executive Director, Charlotte St. Martin, “Moreover, we provide the funds that fuel many educational programs offered to the kids in America. Since our last report from the 2004-2005 season, we see that Broadway theatre has increased its impact by almost 17percent and attendance has increased by 7percent. We are happy to see that Broadway is alive and well in our country an that, coupled with New York City’s numbers, we are entertaining over 25 million theatergoers annually and are creating an economic impact to our country of over $13.15 billion.”

In the 2008-2009 season, there were approximately 40 Broadway touring shows traveling across the country, playing at 192 venues. Theatergoers who specifically came to an area to attend a tour spent $687.2 million on ancillary activities, such as dining and transportation, in addition to the $807.2 million spent to produce and run these tours in the places that presented them or in New York City, bringing the total direct spending due to Touring Broadway to $1.49 billion. This money then generated another $1.86 billion in secondary rounds of spending so that the full economic contribution of Touring Broadway totaled $3.35 billion, according to the report. From this money 87 percent($2.9 billion) supported the communities that presented Broadway tours. On average, Broadway tours contributed an economic impact of 3.5 times the gross ticket sales to the local metropolitan area’s economy.