Mayor Bloomberg ANNOUNCES Rringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus is coming to Coney Island AS PART OF 2009 SUMMER season
04-18-2009
“The Coney Island Boom-A-Ring!” Show Will Join an Array of Iconic Attractions and Events Set for Summer 2009 with Deals for Kids and Families
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. and CEO of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Kenneth Feld today announced that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will bring a special installation of The Greatest Show On Earth – “The Coney Island Boom-A-Ring!” – to Coney Island this summer. The circus will be part of an array of both new programs and existing iconic attractions that will be open to residents and visitors of Coney Island this summer. Mayor Bloomberg visited Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs on Surf Avenue in Coney Island to kick off the 2009 summer season.
“For the first time in its 139-year history, The Greatest Show On Earth will make its way to one of the greatest neighborhoods in New York City – Coney Island,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Joining the mermaids, Cyclones and beachgoers this summer will be Bengal tigers, Asian elephants and acrobats from around the world for what will be a fantastic season for kids and families. Together with community partners, the City is taking steps to expand and make permanent Coney Island’s famous amusement district, and, like summers past, this one will showcase why Coney Island is such a one-of-a-kind asset for New York City. Together with a host of attractions, the circus offers yet one more reason to visit a neighborhood that offers exciting events, great food and 2.3 miles of boardwalk enjoyment for New Yorkers and visitors.”
“With the circus coming to town, Coney Island is poised for a fantastic summer season,” said Deputy Mayor Lieber. “Coney Island is one of the world’s most recognized neighborhoods, and we’re committed to preserving its storied character and revitalizing the entire area. Our plan will create a permanent and enhanced 27-acre amusement and entertainment district, 4,500 new housing units and more than 6,000 permanent jobs and 25,000 construction jobs. And as we pursue it, we will continue to take steps to ensure that the Coney Island’s vibrancy continues to thrive. I want to thank Feld Entertainment, Taconic Investment Partners and NYC & Company for their enormous contribution to Coney Island.”
“We know that Coney Island – with its storied rides, bustling boardwalk and beach, delicious food, and genuinely unique sense of freakishness and fun – has the creative energy of a three-ring-circus every single day,” said Borough President Markowitz. “I thank the Mayor for his commitment to Coney, and commend all the partners who have come together to bring The Greatest Show On Earth to America's Favorite Playground. This summer the circus is indeed in town, and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey 'The Coney Island Boom-A-Ring' will be a thrilling must-see for fun-seekers and families of New York City and beyond.”
“I am truly excited that the Bloomberg Administration is working with the community to bring great things to Coney Island this summer,” said Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. “We are thrilled about the circus coming to town and look forward to working collaboratively on the redevelopment of Coney Island. This proves that together we can accomplish great things.”
“The Coney Island Boom-A-Ring” presented by Ringling Bros. will open on June 18, 2009, with a special performance saluting Coney Island. The show will include Vincenta Pages and her seven white Bengal tigers; the Urias family, known as The First Family of the Motorcycle Globe; the New York debut of The Negrey Troupe, a world-renowned retinue of Russian acrobats; “Eccentric Personality Extraordinaire” Justin Case; and a trio of Asian elephants. The show will run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 18th through September 7th. Tickets, which start at $10, go on sale Thursday, April 30th. Additional information is available at www.ringling.com.
“The Greatest Show On Earth and Coney Island are American entertainment icons,” said Kenneth Feld, Ringling Bros. Producer and Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, Inc. "New York City plays a big role in our circus history and we are thrilled to be a part of this incredible summer for Brooklynites and New Yorkers. Our international community of performers is looking forward to entertaining the international community of Brooklyn families and bringing smiles to the faces of Children of All Ages.”
The circus tent will be located on Surf Ave and West 21st Street on property owned by Taconic Investment Partners. To bring the circus to Coney Island, NYC & Company, New York City Economic Development Corporation and Feld Entertainment, which produces Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, teamed with Taconic to secure a location for the circus. Taconic is providing its land at no cost. NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 60 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.
“Attracting New Yorkers and visitors from around the world to Coney Island is a top priority this summer,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “Working with our public and private partners, we’ve created a season of events that offer something for everyone at an incredible value. There is no better time to go to Coney Island, and we invite everyone to come and experience one of New York City’s great gems.”
“With the arrival of the Ringling Brothers circus, this summer will serve as a preview of what Coney Island could be in coming years if the City’s plan for the area’s preservation and redevelopment is approved,” said NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky. “We are incredibly grateful to Taconic Investment Partners for their help in making this preview a reality. And we look forward to working this summer with our partners in the City Council to help ensure the future of Coney Island as a unique and iconic entertainment destination, while creating thousands of jobs, thousands of units of housing, and much-needed infrastructure and retail amenities in this great Brooklyn neighborhood.”
“The Circus captures and expands on Coney Island's iconic legacy of fun while bringing new economic activity to the area, much as the City's rezoning that is in public review aims to do,” said City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden.
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