Broadway Sees Lifeline in $15 Billion Aid for U.S. Entertainment
- U.S. Congress bill provides billions for pandemic-shut venues
- Local theaters to feel the impact far beyond NYC’s Broadway
Theater owners and producers whose venues have been shut during the Covid-19 pandemic were given a shot at survival after the U.S. Congress approved about $15 billion of grants to the arts and entertainment industry.
That happens to be roughly the same amount New York City alone has suffered in total economic losses since Broadway theaters were among the first businesses to shut in March. Surrounding restaurants and hotels lost billions of dollars as streets became almost deserted. The impact followed a record-breaking 2018-19 season with almost 15 million ticket buyers.