August 26, 2010

The Economic Impact of Jersey Boys in Des Moines

August 26th, 2010

Jersey Boys LogoTodd Razor reports that the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines posted big numbers with its run of “Jersey Boys,” and the nonprofit organization’s leader said even more money spilled over into the economy of the broader community.

The touring Broadway musical, which ended its three-week run in Des Moines last month, portrays the life and times of the Four Seasons, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band composed of Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi.

According to Jeff Chelesvig, the Civic Center’s president and CEO, the 58,234 tickets that his venue sold for “Jersey Boys” is substantial for a mid-tier market such as Des Moines.

“It is kind of outstanding that we sold tickets in so many states,” Chelesvig said, referring to buyers from 42 states and Washington, D.C. In Iowa, people from 97 of 99 counties purchased tickets to see one or more of the show’s 24 performances.

Not that all ticket purchasers traveled here.

“Let’s face it,” Chelesvig said. “I’m sure that for the Midwestern states, people that were purchasing were probably the ones that were going to use the tickets. In a lot of the other states, I’m guessing, those were people who bought tickets for somebody (else) to come and see the show.”

But the bigger story, Chelesvig said, is that the positive economic impact of “Jersey Boys” didn’t stop at the box office.

And it spread when the curtain closed.

Visit BusinessRecord.com fo the full story.

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