SALT LAKE CITY — The Eccles Theater has marked a significant milestone in its financial and attendance records for 2024, showcasing its appeal to both local and regional audiences.
According to Salt Lake County data, the venue attracted over 400,000 attendees across 304 performances featuring a diverse array of titles throughout the year.
This impressive turnout has translated into more than $11 million in revenue, which represents a remarkable 53% increase from 2023 and stands as the highest financial total since the theater’s opening in 2016.
Matt Castillo, director of Salt Lake County’s arts and culture division, revealed that the enthusiastic participation led to a total profit of $5.1 million for the theater.
Of this profit, approximately $1 million will be allocated to a reserve account earmarked for capital projects, whereas the remainder will be distributed among the venue’s ownership, which includes Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, and the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency.
As the county conducts a final audit of the financial numbers, Castillo emphasized that these profits are crucial for managing debt services and other expenses associated with the construction of the $119 million facility.
“Last year was really a banner year for us, and I think these numbers really show how loved this is by the local community, but also what a draw it is regionally,” Castillo commented during a recent financial update presented to the Community Reinvestment Agency board.
A significant contributor to this success was the increased utilization of Eccles Theater’s Delta Hall, which was used 56% of the time last year, up from 41% in the previous year.
Broadway shows, particularly “Hamilton” and other touring productions included in the theater’s Broadway at the Eccles series, were notably popular, accounting for over 60% of total attendees while making up approximately 40% of all events.
The majority of ticket sales came from residents within Salt Lake County, with over 180,000 tickets purchased by locals.
In addition, the events attracted visitors from across the state, with Utah’s other 28 counties purchasing more than 150,000 tickets.
Furthermore, the theater welcomed attendees from almost every U.S. state, with Idaho leading as the largest out-of-state market, followed by California, Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Looking ahead, theater operators are optimistic about 2025, anticipating continued success driven by popular shows like “Les Misérables” and “Wicked,” the latter of which recently concluded its six-week run in Salt Lake City.
Castillo noted, “Many of our runs end up breaking all sorts of records because Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and the whole region just absolutely loves Broadway, and ‘Wicked’ was no exception.
We were the highest-grossing run of ‘Wicked’ for any touring season for Broadway across America, surpassing the previous record set by Chicago in 2019.”
The remarkable achievements in 2024 have also bolstered the theater’s Arts for All program, which provided over 2,000 tickets to low-income residents in the county.
Angela Vanderwell, general manager of Eccles Theater, explained that this initiative is funded through a 50-cent fee attached to all events held at Delta Hall, the theater’s main performance space.
As the county explores additional strategies to attract customers, it is considering a partnership with Utah Transit Authority for a “ticket as fare” initiative to enhance accessibility.
Future successes beyond 2025 will likely hinge on the caliber of Broadway shows available for touring, with productions such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Back to the Future: The Musical,” and “Hadestown” already lined up for next year.
Castillo shared his perspective with the Community Reinvestment Agency, stating, “We certainly expect to continue seeing positive financial results, but I also don’t want you to think we’re going to be coming every year with a $5 million net income.”
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