Metropolitan Opera economics

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Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by Peter Rosa on Sat Mar 21 08:53:43 2026 As recently outlined in the NYT. Annual expenses: $326 million (highest of any performing arts organization in the US) Annual ticket revenue: $70 million (down from $90 million ten years ago) Ugh.
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by AlM* on Sat Mar 21 09:59:57 2026, in response to Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by Peter Rosa on Sat Mar 21 08:53:43 2026.* highest of any performing arts organization in the US Opera is the most expensive performing art. You need musicians, singers, dancers, and lots of fancy scenery. The Met is artistically top notch so they pay through the nose for getting top notch talent. The Met puts on far more performances per year than most opera companies. The Met has a huge theater too so all the costs of keeping the place going are big. So that explains the huge budget. Is it bloated? No doubt.
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by Peter Rosa* on Sat Mar 21 16:39:17 2026, in response to Re: Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by AlM on Sat Mar 21 09:59:57 2026.* While it’s tempting to blame the rapacious musicians’ and stagehands’ unions for the Met’s financial woes, Broadway has to deal with them as well yet many shows make money. It really does seem to be something inherent to opera.
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by BILLBKLYN* on Sun Mar 22 03:31:13 2026, in response to Re: Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by Peter Rosa on Sat Mar 21 16:39:17 2026.* Cue the fat lady!
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by AlM* on Sun Mar 22 07:06:22 2026, in response to Re: Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by Peter Rosa on Sat Mar 21 16:39:17 2026.* Not necessarily opera in general. Broadway is run much leaner than the Met. The Met building is the size of half a city block while Broadway theaters are far smaller. The Met also doesn't run as many days of the year as a Broadway theater. Also, believe it or not, the average ticket price at the Met is probably quite a bit lower.
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by Orange Blossom Special* on Sun Mar 22 08:46:29 2026, in response to Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by Peter Rosa on Sat Mar 21 08:53:43 2026.* But they are unionized and what we think of when we celebrate Labor Day. Wait until you find out how much it costs to put on a play in NYC versus London.
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics
Posted by Peter Rosa* on Sun Mar 22 13:59:43 2026, in response to Re: Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by AlM on Sun Mar 22 07:06:22 2026.* Ballet and symphony orchestras are two other types of highbrow culture that are not self-supporting and require subsidies.
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Re: Metropolitan Opera economics?
Posted by Olog-hai* on Sun Mar 22 14:09:57 2026, in response to Metropolitan Opera economics, posted by Peter Rosa on Sat Mar 21 08:53:43 2026.* The Met is run by a non-profit organization. What don't you understand about that?
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