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Sunderland Empire


Will e said:
Got dragged to see Mary Poppins last night (not particularly my type of thing), I actually quite enjoyed it, everyone else absolutely loved it, the cast were fantastic like.

Now I'm a bit tight when it comes to buying drinks etc in places like this, £3.20 for a bottle of still watta, and £4.85 for the smallest tub of ice cream I've seen.
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Unfortunately it's the same everywhere like this

It's got to the stage where a 'meal deal' of hot snack (pie/hot dog etc), drink and a snack (crisps or chocolate bar) at Old Trafford yesterday for £10.70 seemed alright value for a football ground despite being about a fiver more than it would be outside of the ground
 
Will e said:
Got dragged to see Mary Poppins last night (not particularly my type of thing), I actually quite enjoyed it, everyone else absolutely loved it, the cast were fantastic like.

Now I'm a bit tight when it comes to buying drinks etc in places like this, £3.20 for a bottle of still watta, and £4.85 for the smallest tub of ice cream I've seen.
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Don’t buy it
 
Will e said:
I didn't, and wouldn't, I bought it (them) for someone, not going to spoil a night out haggling over the price of a few things and ATG know that, which is why they charge such exorbitant prices, because they can get away with it.
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They charge that in order to subsidise the ticket prices. It means more people can go. Ticket prices are compulsory if you want to watch the production, hospitality is not.
 
EDGE said:
They charge that in order to subsidise the ticket prices. It means more people can go. Ticket prices are compulsory if you want to watch the production, hospitality is not.
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Ha Ha, I agree that drinks/merchandise and the like have bigger profit margins than tickets BUT, they certainly DO NOT subsidise ticket prices mind. In fact ATG made a lot more from their ticket sales last year than the previous.

Still a rip off.
 
Will e said:
Ha Ha, I agree that drinks/merchandise and the like have bigger profit margins than tickets BUT, they certainly DO NOT subsidise ticket prices mind. In fact ATG made a lot more from their ticket sales last year than the previous.

Still a rip off.
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I doubt you would know. That's how businesses work. The whole of the money raised at events is used to fund the production.

They made more money from tickets because more people were attending due to the lower prices than they would have to otherwise charge.
 
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EDGE said:
I doubt you would know. That's how businesses work. The whole of the money raised at events is used to fund the production.

They made more money from tickets because more people were attending due to the lower prices than they would have to otherwise charge.
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I don’t want to spoil this thread by having an argument over nothing, couple of things.

I very much doubt you know anything of how these businesses work. My daughter works for the empire on most productions like this. From what I am told, I think it works something like this.

This production (Mary Poppins) is done by a company (not sure of the name but the same one who did Hamilton etc.) in conjunction with Disney or whoever. Absolutely nowt to do with ATG and as such would not in any way be funded by the sale of drinks etc in the theatre, that would be ATG’s money, I haven’t got a clue what arrangement ATG and the production company have regarding the tickets etc. the merchandise I would think would be mostly Disney’s profit.

Still a rip off for drinks etc.
 
Will e said:
I don’t want to spoil this thread by having an argument over nothing, couple of things.

I very much doubt you know anything of how these businesses work. My daughter works for the empire on most productions like this. From what I am told, I think it works something like this.

This production (Mary Poppins) is done by a company (not sure of the name but the same one who did Hamilton etc.) in conjunction with Disney or whoever. Absolutely nowt to do with ATG and as such would not in any way be funded by the sale of drinks etc in the theatre, that would be ATG’s money, I haven’t got a clue what arrangement ATG and the production company have regarding the tickets etc. the merchandise I would think would be mostly Disney’s profit.

Still a rip off for drinks etc.
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The money raised from the sale of drinks etc will be used for the upkeep of the Empire. A building over 100 years old. A costly endeavour.

The subsidised tickets will attract more punters who will buy more drinks etc. All part of putting on productions.

Cinemas do the same. They are not in the business of putting on films, they are there to sell popcorn at inflated prices to fund the upkeep and increase their offers.

Luckily these are voluntary.
 
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EDGE said:
They charge that in order to subsidise the ticket prices. It means more people can go. Ticket prices are compulsory if you want to watch the production, hospitality is not.
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Why aye, it’s called greed mate, people would buy more if it wasn’t so high in first place.
 
Just back from this afternoon's Poppins show. It was for the eldest and missus, as I'm not a musicals fan tbh. But it was very good, I must say. The sound-stage they put on was fantastic, as were the sets.

World's most expensive drinks and ice cream, mind.
At least they didn't try to upgrade us to a full bottle of wine this time, only to tell us glass bottles aren't allowed as we reached out seats!
 
EDGE said:
The money raised from the sale of drinks etc will be used for the upkeep of the Empire. A building over 100 years old. A costly endeavour.

The subsidised tickets will attract more punters who will buy more drinks etc. All part of putting on productions.

Cinemas do the same. They are not in the business of putting on films, they are there to sell popcorn at inflated prices to fund the upkeep and increase their offers.

Luckily these are voluntary.
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You really are just making it up aren’t you?



The council own the empire (the building).

ATG manage the theatre. Shows etc.

A charitable trust own the lease for the building and use the income from this to promote arts and culture around Sunderland (so I am told).



Like I said earlier, ATG will charge as much as they possibly can to boost their profits, I don’t know who upkeeps the building but I doubt it would be ATG if someone else owns it and they pay a lease to manage it.
 
We went to see Mary Poppins yesterday and it was one of the best productions I’ve ever seen. The theatre was absolutely packed for a matinee even though it’s been running for over three weeks now.
Had lunch in the town and places were busy with theatre goers all making for a great atmosphere around the city centre.
Yes we did buy an extortionately priced ice cream tub but it was absolutely delicious and added to the very nice afternoon that we had.
 
small mythos said:
We went to see Mary Poppins yesterday and it was one of the best productions I’ve ever seen. The theatre was absolutely packed for a matinee even though it’s been running for over three weeks now.
Had lunch in the town and places were busy with theatre goers all making for a great atmosphere around the city centre.
Yes we did buy an extortionately priced ice cream tub but it was absolutely delicious and added to the very nice afternoon that we had.
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👍
It’s an experience isn’t it? Can’t stint when doing an experience.
 
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