Ticket sales at the Kennedy Center's three largest concert halls have fallen to their lowest levels in years since Donald Trump's takeover of the performing arts institution earlier this year, according to a new Kennedy Center analysis. Washington Post.
The Post reported Friday that it collected and analyzed ticket sales data from Sept. 3 to Oct. 19 and found that about 43% of tickets for typical productions went unsold. By comparison, the Post reported that about 93% of tickets were sold or given away for free in fall 2024 and 80% in fall 2023.
The analysis showed that the decline affected all three of the center's main venues: the Opera House, the Concert Hall and the Eisenhower Theater.
The Kennedy Center did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Post and Guardian.
In a statement emailed to the Post, Michael Kaiser, who served as president of the Kennedy Center from 2001 to 2014, warned that “declining ticket sales not only result in decreased revenue; they also bode ill for future fundraising revenues.”
“The vast majority of donors are ticket buyers who seek to improve their relationship with the organization by making donations in addition to paying for tickets,” Kaiser said.
The Post pointed to several possible factors that could be behind the decline. The publication noted that the Broadway musical theater ticket sales also fell and said the Trump administration's recent deployment of the National Guard to Washington had “damaged both sides.” tourism And nightlifeThe report adds that many former Kennedy Center patrons have vowed to boycott the institution while Trump is its chairman.
Trump appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center board in February and replaced the board of trustees, sparking controversy in the arts community.
A week after the announcement, several employees told the Washington Post that ticket sales had dropped by half. approximately 50%compared to the previous week.
In June it was reported that subscription sales fell by about $1.6 million.or approximately 36% compared to 2024 levels. Then, at the beginning of September, analysis Washingtonian magazine found that ticket sales at the center continued to fallwhen viewers “vote with their feet to skip the show” to protest Trump's rise to power.
Some performers also joined the boycott. Since Trump took control, a number of prominent artists have also become dissociated from the center and several productions were withdrawnincluding a Hamilton tour stop that was canceled by the production itself.
In May, some actors from Les Miserables pulled out of a speech at the center to protest Trump's planned presence.
