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Ringling Bros. Circus performs at empty arena
(by Walt Brown - March 19, 2008)
The surest, most absolute sign – more reliable even than the fabled groundhog – that spring is approaching, is the arrival of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus in its tour of local venues. It arrives at the Meadowlands, moves to the Nassau Coliseum and then on to
Madison
Square
Garden before finally returning to the Meadowlands.
Its arrival at the Meadowlands, on March 4, involves a "parade of pachyderms" and other safe animals – the tigers go first class – for about a 1.5 mile walk from the train stop, adjacent to Rt. 17, to the "Izod" Meadowlands Arena. That "procession" is as much a part of the circus as the indoor portion.
Or so I thought.
On March 8, I went to the circus by myself. But the English language is replete with possible semantic interpretations. Did my "I went to the circus by myself" comment mean that I was the only passenger in the automobile that delivered me, or I was the only spectator in the arena?
In this sad state of affairs, both interpretations would have approached reality.
I've read in the paper of sporting events in the last couple of years, featuring the relatively successful New Jersey Nets and Devils, drawing small crowds.
The circus, it seems, has joined their ranks. I simply could not believe how empty that arena was. Certain areas were roped off because the line of sight would be less than adequate; but of the available seating areas, I counted 24 sections that were empty.
Not thinly populated. Empty.
I could have paid $28 for a seat that would have been adjacent to the third of the three rings, but this is the circus. "Do you have any seats in the middle?" I asked. "Let me check," I was told. "Oh, yes, since you only need one seat, we have this one, and it's $50."
I could have had my choice of seats in that section, too. I was down on the arena floor for the goings-on with the clowns and jugglers beforehand, but when I went to take my seat, shortly before showtime, I found it depopulated.
What is going on? Could this be from the recession?
Since I couldn't imagine any other reason, I had to go with the theory propounded, particularly since there had been a sizable – arguably a more sizable turnout – for the Tuesday "procession."
If it is due to the recession, we shall all suffer equally and deal with events by being more cautious in the abuses of the purse. But to think that people cannot go to the circus… I felt bad for the performers and the animals, although I realized this was not likely the only small crowd they had performed in front of.
The "procession" put the fun back in the circus. The "recession" popped my $2 balloon.
But I'm going to go back in April to continue my research.
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