Broadway's Ripple Effect

Broadway’s theaters are not the only ones feeling the effects of Broadway’s struggle right now. It may not seem so obvious, but all of the restaurants, stores, and businesses around Broadway rely on the crowds brought in by Broadway’s success. Many theatergoers stop off at a restaurant to catch a quick meal before or after a show, or buy memorabilia from the many shops in the area.

These businesses rely on Broadway’s success, and in times like this when Broadway isn’t bringing in its usual crowds, the nearby industries begin to feel the pressure. Customers are no longer coming in their usual numbers, and sales rates are dropping.

07, for example, there was a mass strike by Broadway’s stagehands (click here for some background info on the strike). Aside from all the show cancellations that resulted, the effects were felt all across the Broadway area in a huge ripple effect. Restaurant reservations were cancelled; stores didn’t make sales; taxis didn’t get their usual numbers of customers; all because Broadway couldn’t make a deal with its stagehands.

2008 saw a similar ordeal for Broadway, this time in the form of a musician and actor’s strike. This strike caused twenty different shows to cancel performances, bringing Broadway to a standstill. This strike, however, did not have quite as big an effect on the surrounding businesses, because many of the theatergoers were already in the area when the cancellations were announced. Instead, masses of angry theater lovers were left outside the theaters with their now-useless tickets.

Now, even without a strike, customers are becoming scarce in New York’s theater district. Broadway just isn’t attracting people like it used to. Many people travel to New York specifically to see a Broadway show, and with the economy in its current state, this just isn’t happening anymore. People are afraid to spend the money on tickets, and aren’t willing to make the trip to New York.

If this pattern keeps up for much longer, we’re almost definitely going to see some businesses in the Broadway area go under. And we just have to hope there isn’t a strike any time soon, because that would put Broadway and its neighbors over the edge. I’m not sure if there would be any coming back from that kind of a disaster.