HOST, HANNAH WEAVER: Broadway has been in a slow recovery since the pandemic. The industry finally gained some headway, but the roll out of congestion pricing raised some initial concerns that the plan would hinder the comeback. Dana Binfet [Day-na Bin-Fette] took a trip to Manhattan’s Theater District to see how the road tolls are impacting ticket sales on Broadway.
NARRATOR, DANA BINFET: It’s a chilly Friday night outside the Ambassador Theatre on 49th Street. Taxi’s race through the streets and the sidewalks are busy with avid fans visiting The Great White Way.
JON SCHUPAK: We drove, we’re here to see Chicago
BINFET: Jon Schupak and Lauren Cuttino live upstate in Clarkstown. It’s the first time they’ve come into the city since congestion pricing went into effect, so they weighed all their transportation options.
SCHUPAK: I did suggest taking the train
LAUREN CUTTINO: He wanted to take the train, but I said absolutely not. We're driving, so he's just gonna have to absorb that cost.
BINFET: The Broadway League is the national trade association for the theatre industry tracking weekly box office stats and show attendance data. According to their records the last week of December saw a high of over 300,000 attendees by mid January those sales dropped by almost 50,000 tickets.
DANNY PEARLSTEIN: So far, Broadway is doing a lot better this winter than it did last winter, when we didn't have congestion pricing. So far, it's a winner.
BINFET: Danny Pearlstein is the Policy and Communications Director for Riders Alliance, a grassroots organization in the city that holds elected officials accountable for better public transit.
PEARLSTEIN: We Know there are more Broadway shows open, so we can't exactly say that, you know, the tremendous amount of additional revenue is all owing to congestion pricing, but I think it's fair to say that the shows aren't hurting. And you know, we also, I think, can say confidently that its not reducing the number of people in Manhattan.
BINFET: Although Broadways shows are doing well, the business owners are noticing changes in the number of cars heading into the area.
DIONISIO GOMEZ: It definitely impacts the parking business.
BINFET: Dionisio Gomez, manages the ABM Parking structure right across from Broadway musicals, Wicked, and Romeo & Juliet. Do you have, Do you have an idea of what last January was like compared to this January?
GOMEZ: Yes, it's like about like, 20% less. I also spoke to other companies too and they're like, almost the same, like 20% down.
BINFET: Audiences aren’t the only commuters heading into the city for Broadway shows…Congestion pricing can also impact the behind the scenes teams that stage the productions every night.
MAIRI DORMAN PHANEUF: Those of us who work on Broadway, I would not consider us wealthy suburbanites.
BINFET: Mairi Dorman Phaneuf (pronounced fan - oof) has worked on Broadway for 22 years and is currently a cellist in the orchestra pit at The Great Gatsby. She commutes daily from Hartsdale in Westchester County.
PHANEUF: My biggest issue with the congestion pricing is - there are no trains that come back after a Broadway show. And I know for a fact it impacts people who want to come and see a show, who live anywhere north of the city, because they can't get home again afterwards, because there are no trains.
BINFET: Back out on the street Mark and Sandra Rattray are waiting in line at the Ambassador Theatre. They only come into the city a few times a year and just consider the tolls part of the cost. Tonight they’re seeing their favorite performer in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.. Are you guys excited?
SANDRA RATTRAY: Yes!
BINFET: So worth the drive in?”
RATTRAY: “Anytime that you get an opportunity to see Adam Lambert, absolutely!”
BINFET: It may be too soon to judge the impacts of the new tolls, but with Tony awards season right around the corner, ticket sales are expected to rise. Dana Binfet, Uptown Radio News.
Comments