Ringling Brothers Circus to Close

[Adelle Dazeem]

I have a lot of friends that have worked for or trained with the Ringling company that are utterly devastated at this news. A lot of very talented performers will be out of work. I feel very sorry for all of them. It makes me sad to see people celebrating this. Having opinions on animal treatment is one thing, being glad about people losing jobs they worked and trained their whole lives for is something else. I get feeling relieved for the animals, but a little compassion for the humans would be nice.

I don't think anyone is celebrating the loss of jobs for people, but (in a lot of people's opinions) animals have been mistreated since the creation of circuses and that is worth celebrating.

 

[mummabear]

They're still going to do a show. They claim it will be less theatrical and more educational. They'll have start times, seating, and everything.

I feel like SeaWorld is a snake eating its own tail.
They will never please the people who want to see them closed, and while they are trying to please the people that weren't coming they are forgetting about the people that are.
At least with this there is some compromise

 

[bcla]

I feel like SeaWorld is a snake eating its own tail.
They will never please the people who want to see them closed, and while they are trying to please the people that weren't coming they are forgetting about the people that are.
At least with this there is some compromise

One of the big things they're trying to do in San Diego is build a hotel on site as well as other modifications of their current orca venue. They would need a development permit from the California Coastal Commission because their location is within the protected coastal area. It's actually a bit crazy since nearly anyone who lives within four miles of the coast needs such a permit to do as much as repave a driveway. It's a shorter distance in incorporated cities, but SeaWorld is certainly subject to such regulation.

I remember back when they first proposed it, the commission said that they would likely require that SeaWorld cease all orca breeding and other activities in order to get that permit. They frankly had no authority (mission creep is how I'd describe their actions) to do so since they're captive animals. Some of their authority includes protecting coastal resources for the benefit of native wildlife, but that was really bizarre since captive orcas are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture. In the end they did cease all breeding and modified the shows, but that was probably more due to public pressure.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-fi-orca-seaworld-20161104-story.html

Just last year, SeaWorld went before the Coastal Commission seeking approval of a now abandoned plan to double the volume of the orcas’ habitat. While the commission OK’d the plan, it imposed a condition that SeaWorld cease breeding its orcas.

The company protested, but months later, responding to mounting public pressure, announced it would end captive breeding of its killer whales at all three namesake marine parks.​

 

[mummabear]

One of the big things they're trying to do in San Diego is build a hotel on site as well as other modifications of their current orca venue. They would need a development permit from the California Coastal Commission because their location is within the protected coastal area. It's actually a bit crazy since nearly anyone who lives within four miles of the coast needs such a permit to do as much as repave a driveway. It's a shorter distance in incorporated cities, but SeaWorld is certainly subject to such regulation.

I remember back when they first proposed it, the commission said that they would likely require that SeaWorld cease all orca breeding and other activities in order to get that permit. They frankly had no authority (mission creep is how I'd describe their actions) to do so since they're captive animals. Some of their authority includes protecting coastal resources for the benefit of native wildlife, but that was really bizarre since captive orcas are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture. In the end they did cease all breeding and modified the shows, but that was probably more due to public pressure.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-fi-orca-seaworld-20161104-story.html

Just last year, SeaWorld went before the Coastal Commission seeking approval of a now abandoned plan to double the volume of the orcas’ habitat. While the commission OK’d the plan, it imposed a condition that SeaWorld cease breeding its orcas.

The company protested, but months later, responding to mounting public pressure, announced it would end captive breeding of its killer whales at all three namesake marine parks.​

Yes I had seen that previously but didn't know that the project had been cancelled, what a shame.
Last time we were in San Diego they had huge billboards around the tank talking about what they were doing. I'm surprised they scrapped it.

I think they are bowing to pressure from people who just aren't going to go no matter what they do. At the same time they are loosing the people who were going because the offering isn't what it was before (because they are trying to please people they can't please)

 

[sonnyjane]

Yes I had seen that previously but didn't know that the project had been cancelled, what a shame.
Last time we were in San Diego they had huge billboards around the tank talking about what they were doing. I'm surprised they scrapped it.

I think they are bowing to pressure from people who just aren't going to go no matter what they do. At the same time they are loosing the people who were going because the offering isn't what it was before (because they are trying to please people they can't please)

They scrapped it because they are BROKE. They just let 300 of their staff go, and we are talking senior staff that have been there 25+ years. I think they realize that the people complaining will never go anyway, so not worth doing the project. They've agreed to stop breeding. This is the last generation. It frankly doesn't make any fiscal sense to move forward with a project that will bankrupt them when they'll only have the whales for another 20-30 years tops.

 

[mummabear]

They scrapped it because they are BROKE. They just let 300 of their staff go, and we are talking senior staff that have been there 25+ years. I think they realize that the people complaining will never go anyway, so not worth doing the project. They've agreed to stop breeding. This is the last generation. It frankly doesn't make any fiscal sense to move forward with a project that will bankrupt them when they'll only have the whales for another 20-30 years tops.

Sad to hear about the job losses.
I agree makes no sense if there won't be more Orcas.

 

[BrianL]

I went and seen the water one at Belaaggio, I swear I tried so hard to like it, but I couldnt do it, they had clowns walking around and the audience doing dumb stuff, not even a bit funny, and people were laughing so hard, I wanted to go hit them. I was finally able to go to sleep and when I woke up I left

This is how I felt about the only Cirque show I ever saw (didn't pay for it thankfully). Whey they do their acrobatic bits it is great, but there is so much filler as they change the rigging and setup for the next big stunt segment, and it's completely ridiculous insanity (I recall a giant man-baby on a tricycle). It gets boring really fast, and that show was L-O-N-G! It just wasn't enjoyable.

 

[bcla]

This is how I felt about the only Cirque show I ever saw (didn't pay for it thankfully). Whey they do their acrobatic bits it is great, but there is so much filler as they change the rigging and setup for the next big stunt segment, and it's completely ridiculous insanity (I recall a giant man-baby on a tricycle). It gets boring really fast, and that show was L-O-N-G! It just wasn't enjoyable.

I rather line their shows, but it's a matter of personal preference. The set changes are typically done by people in costume, so it's supposed to flow better. I guess the most frustrating thing I remember about Ringling Brothers was that it was a three-ring circus. Sometimes they would have something different happening in each ring it got hard to follow.

I've seen maybe four of the Cirque du Soleil traveling shows starting with Nouvelle Experience in 1990. I've seen Mystère twice over the years, with the guy as the baby, and then his replacement who was a woman.

 

[RedAngie]

This is how I felt about the only Cirque show I ever saw (didn't pay for it thankfully). Whey they do their acrobatic bits it is great, but there is so much filler as they change the rigging and setup for the next big stunt segment, and it's completely ridiculous insanity (I recall a giant man-baby on a tricycle). It gets boring really fast, and that show was L-O-N-G! It just wasn't enjoyable.

I saw Cirque twice. Really enjoyed the first time, but then about 5 years later, a supposedly different show, it was just the same old same old. And something may have gone, perhaps with the equipment, because there was a long sequence with an audience member (or audience plant) that was cringe-worthy. The audience was getting restless with that and didn't seem very enthused for the rest of the show.

Ringling will be in Philly in February. I looked up the website, and the seating arrangement is like that for a concert, with an end stage and 1/3 of the seating blocked off. Not sure how or if they're supposed to fit three rings in.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

So I went to see the Ringling circus yesterday....

It is such an awesome show. It is such a loss that it is ending.

If you can, go see it. It is amazing to see what animal trainers can do. It saddens me that we probably won't see shows like it ever again in the United States.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

I'll pass. Animals performing out of fear and/or hunger doesn't appeal to me.

 

[Mizzoufan]

End of an Era. I hope that someone will buy it and bring it back.

 

[chartle]

End of an Era. I hope that someone will buy it and bring it back.

How? If it could be brought back (assuming in another form) the owners would do it.