The Ringling Brothers Circus Closing after More Than 100 Years

Feld Entertainment, who has owned Ringling Brothers circus for the last 50 years, is closing the famed circus after more than 100 years of existence. The company stated that declining ticket sales and the high cost of operating a circus of it size led to the decision. The company also saw a decrease in ticket sales after removing the elephants from the circus which was one of its most prominent and enjoyed routines. The animal rights group, PETA, picketed, protested, and even sued Ringling brothers which led to the circus ending the elephant part of the show. They will have approximately 30 more shows through May 2017 before closing.

There are between 250-300 members in the circus’ full cast and 3 performing units that travel across the United States that will no longer be performing. I can vividly recall the Ringling Brothers Circus train coming to downtown Birmingham and the elephants being led from the center of town to the civic center prior to the first show. The elephants would come up 20th street and traffic would be stopped. It really was an interesting sight to see these huge animals walking through downtown and I can remember taking my children to see the circus on at least 2 occasions. Good times for sure!

You hate to hear the end of such a well-known company, but many times that is just part of the business cycle. Please remember that at Bond and Botes, we have been helping good people who are going through bad times for more than a quarter of a century. We offer a free initial consultation with an experienced attorney who will discuss your options with you. Come see us and we will help you learn what bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy options you have in dealing with debt. Stop procrastinating and let us help you.