In Thursday’s (9/15) Kansas City Business Journal, Brenna Hawley writes, “No other company will appear in the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts more often than the Kansas City Symphony, which until now has had to perform in as many as four different venues. With the Friday opening of the $413 million Kauffman Center, particularly its Helzberg Hall, that no longer will be the case. It will host the symphony’s entire series, including classical, popular, family and holiday performances. And it’s bringing a melodic rise to the symphony’s ticket sales. Frank Byrne, executive director of the symphony, said that going to a concert will be an experience. The new hall has unparalleled acoustics, more comfortable seats and better amenities than past performance venues. … Helzberg seats offer a variety of vantage points for viewing the symphony, with many seats beside or even behind the musicians. … The symphony added two lower-priced sections at the Kauffman Center and worked to offer an equal number of higher- and lower-tier tickets. The strategy is working: As of Sept. 6, subscription presales—not including single tickets—were up almost 46 percent from last year’s ending number. That $801,176 increase meant a total of more than $2.5 million. Byrne said the symphony has seen a dramatic uptick in single-ticket sales, as well.”
Posted September 16, 2011
