Empire State Building
Empire State Building operates an iconic 86th and 102nd floor NYC observation deck experience serving 2.5M+ annual visitors through tiered ticketing, premium experiences, dining partnerships, and special events, while also functioning as a 2.8M-sq-ft office property under Empire State Realty Trust.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Empire State Building firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Empire State Building
- Legal name
- Empire State Building
- Website
- https://esbnyc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1931
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Empire State Building operates an iconic 86th and 102nd floor NYC observation deck experience serving 2.5M+ annual visitors through tiered ticketing, premium experiences, dining partnerships, and special events, while also functioning as a 2.8M-sq-ft office property under Empire State Realty Trust.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Empire State Building industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tourist Attraction and Observation Deck Services
- NAICS
- Historical Sites (71212)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Observation Decks & Viewing Platforms (THAJACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles) (THAJACAE)
Keywords
Where Empire State Building is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Empire State Building business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Observation Deck Tickets: Timed-entry tickets to 86th and 102nd floor observation decks. Revenue from ticket sales across multiple tiers including standard, flex, express, and premium experiences.
- Food & Beverage Partnerships: In-building restaurants and pop-up experiences generate revenue through tenant partnerships. Includes Starbucks Reserve, STATE Grill & Bar, Tacombi, Ghirardelli, Chopt, Chipotle, Sushi Beauu, and seasonal pop-ups like Eataly and Ghirardelli anniversary activations.
- Merchandise Sales: The Empire State Building Store sells official merchandise including t-shirts, memorabilia, and King Kong items through on-site and online retail.
- Premium Experiences: Special event tickets including Fourth of July celebration ($580/person), birthday party packages ($90-$128/person), proposal packages ($1,000+), premium tours ($175/person), and VIP All Access Tours ($500/person).
- Tower Lighting Partnerships: Lighting partnership program allowing organizations to sponsor building light displays for occasions and events.
- Attraction Pass Distribution: Revenue from CityPASS and New York Pass partnerships offering bundled admission with other NYC attractions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Main Deck 86th Floor Observation Deck - Standard Entry |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Empire State Building Flex Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Top Deck 86th & 102nd Floor Observation Decks |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Express Pass - Skip-the-Line Entry |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fourth of July 2026 Celebration - Exclusive Event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Experience - Private Guided Tour |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | All Access VIP Tour |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Birthday Party Packages |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Happily Ever Empire Proposal Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ghirardelli Pop-Up - Limited Time |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | NYC Locals Ticket |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels13 records
Empire State Building product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Empire State Building operates a ticketed observation deck experience featuring its iconic open-air 86th Floor and enclosed 102nd Floor Observation Decks, complemented by museum-quality exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors. The attraction offers multiple ticket tiers (Standard, Flex, Express, Premium, VIP), seasonal pop-up experiences, dining partnerships, retail merchandise, and special events such as the annual Empire State Building Run-Up tower race and the Tower Lights color program.
Product overview
The Empire State Building offers a unified observation deck and immersive visitor experience centered around its iconic 86th Floor open-air Observation Deck and 102nd Floor enclosed Observation Deck, complemented by museum-quality exhibits, dining options, retail stores, and special events. The core ticketed experience includes multiple pricing tiers ranging from the $44 Best Value Ticket to the $580 Fourth of July celebration, with add-ons such as Express Pass for skip-the-line access, Flex Tickets for flexible scheduling, Premium Experiences with guided tours, and VIP All Access Tours. The building also hosts seasonal activations including the Tastes of New York Experience pop-ups with partners like Eataly and Ghirardelli, the Classic Football Shirts soccer jersey exhibit, birthday party packages, and the annual Empire State Building Run-Up tower race. Dining is available through multiple on-site partners including the Starbucks Reserve, STATE Grill & Bar, Ghirardelli, Tacombi, Chopt, and Sushi Beauu, while the Empire State Building Store offers official merchandise. The Tower Lights program and Live Cam provide additional digital engagement experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Main Deck 86th Floor Observation Deck Iconic open-air observation deck offering 360-degree views of Manhattan, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and views spanning up to six states. Tickets start at $44 for adults, $38 for children, $42 for seniors.
- Top Deck 86th & 102nd Floor Observation Decks Premium combined access to both observation decks including the reimagined 102nd floor with floor-to-ceiling views stretching up to 80 miles on a clear day. Tickets start at $79.
- Immersive Museum Exhibits Museum-quality galleries on the 2nd and 80th floors featuring 13 exhibits including The Site in the 1920s, Construction history, Opening Day experience, King Kong interactive exhibit, Celebrity Walk, World's Most Famous Building 72-screen theater, and Artistry in Light exhibit.
- Empire State Building Run-Up The world's first and most famous tower race challenging runners to climb 86 flights (1,576 stairs) to the 86th Floor Observation Deck. The 2026 event takes place October 6th at 8 PM, presented by NYU Langone Health and powered by Merrell.
- Birthday Party Packages Children's birthday party packages at the observatory featuring guided tours, private party room, Ghirardelli chocolate & ice cream sundae bar, NYC-style pizza, themed decorations, party favors, balloon artist, and face painting. Starting at $90/person for Main Deck or $128/person for Top Deck.
- Tower Lights Program Iconic tower lighting system that changes colors to recognize important occasions, holidays, and organizations. Uses state-of-the-art LED lighting system capable of displaying more than 16 million colors since 2012. Tower Lighting Partnership program allows organizations to sponsor light displays.
- Empire State Building Store
Quantifiable outcome
- 4 consecutive years #1 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best in U.S.
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Empire State Building
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Empire State Building technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Empire State Building partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Classic Football ShirtsflagshipLimited-time soccer jersey exhibit featuring 100+ match-worn and rare jerseys throughout the immersive experience from June 9 - July 19, 2026. Partnership includes exclusive ESB-inspired soccer jersey merchandise. Photo moments and commemorative cup giveaway for visitors.
- EatalycoreTastes of New York Experience - Italian desserts and beverages including gelato, cannoli, and tiramisù at the 86th Floor Observation Deck from June 4 through August 31. Seasonal food and beverage activation bringing together two iconic NYC brands.
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Companycore95th anniversary pop-up experience featuring exclusive Kong Sundae ($18) and Classic Hot Cocoa ($11) on 86th Floor Observation Deck from April 10 through May 10. First-ever Ghirardelli store in New York City with ground-floor shop opening later.
- Tower Lighting PartnerscoreOrganizations can partner to have building lit in their colors for occasions. Over 16 million color capabilities. Partnership applications accepted through tower lighting partner application.
- West Ham United F.C.minorProfessional soccer team visits to Empire State Building as part of NYC tourism. Players including Nayef Aguerd, Jean-Clair Todibo, Alphonse Areola visited.
- Everton F.C.minorProfessional soccer team visit to Empire State Building as part of NYC tourism.
- Chelsea F.C. LegendsminorFormer Chelsea FC legends Ashley Cole and Michael Essien visited with Premiere League Trophy for special ESB event.
- Radio City Rockettesflagship100th anniversary celebration partnership including special exhibits at Empire State Building, tower lightings, and collaborative events with Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
- Heidi KlumminorVisit from Halloween Queen Heidi Klum who flipped the light switch and toured observatory for fall and Halloween festivities celebration.
- NYU Langone HealthflagshipPresenting Sponsor of 2026 Empire State Building Run-Up on October 6th. One of the largest academic health systems in the Northeast with 7 inpatient facilities and 320+ locations. Race raises funds for the institution.
- Super Race SystemscoreRace producer for the Empire State Building Run-Up, the world's first and most famous tower race.
- MERRELLcorePowered by MERRELL sponsor for 2026 Run-Up event. Global leader in outdoor active footwear with Moab hiking boot and Jungle Moc. Brand of the Year 2022 by Footwear News.
- CityPASScoreBundled attraction pass offering up to 42% savings on ESB plus 4 other top NYC attractions. Includes AM/PM Experience bonus admission.
- New York PassminorFlexible multi-day pass with 100+ NYC experiences including Empire State Building access.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Empire State Building competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck: Open-air and enclosed observation decks atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. Directly comparable ticketed observation experience positioned against ESB on visitor itineraries.
- Edge at Hudson Yards: Outdoor sky deck and observation experience at Hudson Yards featuring the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Newer competitor targeting similar premium experience and skyline-photography use cases as ESB.
- One World Observatory: Observation deck atop One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan offering 360° views and immersive exhibits. Direct competitor to ESB in the NYC ticketed observation deck category, targeting the same tourist and visitor segments.
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: Midtown observation experience at One Vanderbilt adjacent to Grand Central, featuring immersive art installations and skyline views. Competes head-to-head with ESB for first-time and repeat NYC visitors, especially younger and social-media-driven audiences.
- The View Observation Deck: Observation deck offering panoramic views of NYC from a Manhattan location. Competes in the same paid observation deck category with overlapping tourist customer base.
Others
- Big Bus Tours: Hop-on-hop-off tour operator with a designated stop at the Empire State Building and an active channel partnership. Functions as a distribution and complementary experience partner in the NYC tourist ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
- Empire State Realty Trust: Publicly traded REIT (NYSE: ESRT) that owns the Empire State Building and a portfolio of Manhattan and Greater NYC office and retail properties. Parent/holding entity rather than a competitor, but a directly comparable operator of NYC commercial real estate.
Broad incumbents
- Merlin Entertainments: Global operator of branded attractions (Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, observation experiences). Broader incumbent in the ticketed attractions category with comparable visitor-experience economics and partnerships playbook, relevant as a benchmark for premium urban attraction operations.
Regional players
- Statue of Liberty National Monument: Iconic NYC heritage attraction drawing millions of tourists annually. Competes for tourist time and ticket dollars in NYC itineraries though operated as a public monument rather than a commercial observation deck.
- Madame Tussauds New York: Midtown Manhattan ticketed attraction operating in the same tourist corridor. Comparable in scale and target demographic (tourists, families, group visitors) but offers a different category experience rather than competing directly on observation decks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Empire State Building social profiles
Digital presenceEmpire State Building compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Empire State Building financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Empire State Building leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Empire State Building funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Empire State Building M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Empire State Building
What does Empire State Building do?
The Empire State Building operates a ticketed observation deck experience featuring its iconic open-air 86th Floor and enclosed 102nd Floor Observation Decks, complemented by museum-quality exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors. The attraction offers multiple ticket tiers (Standard, Flex, Express, Premium, VIP), seasonal pop-up experiences, dining partnerships, retail merchandise, and special events such as the annual Empire State Building Run-Up tower race and the Tower Lights color program.
Is Empire State Building a public or private company?
Empire State Building is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Empire State Building founded?
Empire State Building was founded in 1931. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Empire State Building based?
Empire State Building is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Empire State Building make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Observation Deck Tickets are the primary driver. The others are food & Beverage Partnerships, merchandise Sales, premium Experiences, tower Lighting Partnerships and attraction Pass Distribution.
Who are Empire State Building's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Top of the Rock Observation Deck, Edge at Hudson Yards, One World Observatory, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and The View Observation Deck. Others are Big Bus Tours and Empire State Realty Trust. Merlin Entertainments is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Statue of Liberty National Monument and Madame Tussauds New York.
Does Empire State Building have an API?
No public API is recorded for Empire State Building.
What industry is Empire State Building in?
Empire State Building's product category is Tourist Attraction and Observation Deck Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJACAA, Observation Decks & Viewing Platforms, with a secondary code of THAJACAE, Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles). Its NAICS code is 71212 and its SIC code is 7900.