ETOA currently has 28 members within its group, who collectively handle around 2 Million tourists each year, but they said during the games they expect to see a 90% downturn, after a survey was carried out amongst its members.
Sales are expected to be so bad that the financial website "This is Money" said the "Really Useful Group" is even thinking of temporarily closing down many of its shows such as "The Phantom of the Opera" during the Olympic period.
But President of the Society of London Theatre Mark Rubinstein has put a slightly positive spin on the situation, saying "The society is working very closely with London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Mayor of London’s office, with Transport for London and all the other partners to ensure we maximise the opportunity that the games can offer, both in the short term next summer and in the long term in terms of the exposure and focus London will receive, and to make sure that we are as ready as possible and the message is clear that London is open and the theatres are open and very much available for business during the games period".
This news from ETOA comes despite many West End shows announcing this year that they were extending performances to productions such as "The Lion King", "Les Miserables", "Ghost the Musical" and "The Wizard of Oz", to cope with Olympic visitors
A spokesman for the "Really Useful Group" was keen to point out "Nothing has yet been confirmed. We are keen to highlight the fact that it is a show's producer, not the Theatre owner, who will determine whether a show closes during the Olympic period".
Let's hope the Olympics don't have a negative effect on the buzzing Broadway Scene in London.
Image via Wikipedia.
