One week into the New York City Ballet’s Spa City residency, attendance has risen from last year’s level, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced today.
Attendance increased 7 percent during the opening week of the two-week run, which ends on Saturday night. The ballet trimmed a week off of its traditional schedule this year, a cost-saving measure both the NYCB and the venue agreed to.
The attendance jump brings the program back in line with previous years, after it suffered a 6 percent decline in 2008. Poor classical season ticket sales were largely blamed on rainy weather and a poor economy.
Both of those factors were still in play this year, but in a statement SPAC President Marcia White said that a strong program combined with promotions helped increase turnout.
While it’s too soon to make any final determinations, we are cautiously optimistic that attendance will continue to be strong as we move into the ballet’s final week here at SPAC, she said.
A schedule of the ballet’s final performances is available at www.spac.org.“