What Big Apple Circus does

Big Apple Circus is a privately held, New York City-based live entertainment company that produces an annual, single-season one-ring circus show at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, running roughly from early November through early January (the 2025-2026 season runs November 7, 2025 through January 4, 2026). The company was founded in 1977 by Paul Binder and Michael Christensen following their experience as street performers in Europe, and is currently operated under the legal entity EMC Presents BAC LLC, co-presented with The Vazquez Family and The Gold Group. Its core product is a roughly two-hour-and-ten-minute themed live circus production featuring an annually refreshed roster of international performers (including the Flying Maluendas, the Kung Fu Boys, and the three-generation Olate family dog act), supported by a VIP upgrade package, group and school ticketing, on-site food and beverage and retail merchandise, and private event / performance buyout services.

Revenue is generated entirely through one-time transactional live-event economics: individual ticket sales via the Eventim online platform and the on-site box office at Lincoln Center Plaza, group sales (12+ attendees) and private-event buyouts via Broadway Plus, VIP package upgrades, plus on-site F&B and merchandise. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with a 10% military and first responder discount and transactional exchange fees of $9.99 (pre-purchase) or $19.95 (post-purchase). The primary customer base is families with children and entertainment-seeking adults during the New York holiday season, with secondary segments in school/corporate groups and private-event hosts; the geographic market served is New York City, with regional co-marketing extensions into the Northeast US via partnerships with LEGOLAND Discovery Centers (New Jersey and Westchester), Marriott Bonvoy, and local media (ABC7 NY, WCVB).

The technology surface is minimal and traditional: theatrical lighting effects (fog, haze, strobes, lasers), an e-commerce ticketing layer via Eventim, and conventional digital/PR marketing through Tellem Grody PR. The company has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no app, no proprietary software platform, and no APIs. Notable governance: Peter Grauer serves as Chairman Emeritus on the Board of Directors; the operational leadership team beyond the co-founders is not detailed in the source material.

Name

Big Apple Circus

Legal name

EMC Presents BAC LLC

Website

https://bigapplecircus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Big Apple Circus is a privately held New York City live entertainment company that produces an annual, single-season one-ring circus show at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park from early November through early January, serving families, school and corporate groups, and private-event hosts with ticketed performances, VIP upgrades, and on-site food, beverage, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Family Entertainment (Circus)

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Live family entertainment
• Circus performances
• Theatrical live shows
• Seasonal entertainment productions
• Private event venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from individual and group ticket sales for live performances. Tickets sold through Eventim online platform and physical box office at Lincoln Center. Price tiers vary by date/time with early booking incentivized for better seats.
2. VIP Experience Packages: Upgrade option available for any ticket to include VIP Package with enhanced experience elements.
3. Food and Beverage: On-site food and beverage sales including snacks and beverages available for purchase during performances.
4. Retail Merchandise: On-site retail experience offering merchandise for purchase.
5. Private Events and Buyouts: Full or partial performance buyouts available for private events including holiday parties, birthdays, and networking events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Big Apple Circus operates a seasonal one-ring live circus show under a big-top tent at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park in New York City, running approximately 2 hours 10 minutes with an annually refreshed themed production featuring world-class international performers. Ancillary offerings include VIP Experience upgrades, group and school reservations (12+) via Broadway Plus, private event hosting, and on-site food, beverage, and merchandise.

Product overview

Big Apple Circus is a single, unified live entertainment product offering a one-ring circus experience under a big top tent. The core product is the live circus show featuring international performers. The portfolio includes the main show experience, a VIP Package upgrade, group ticketing services for 12+ attendees through Broadway Plus, and private event hosting capabilities for full or partial performance buyouts. The 2025-2026 season runs November 7, 2025 through January 4, 2026 at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Apple Circus Live Show A one-ring European-style circus show lasting approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, featuring world-class international performers and a new themed production created annually. Targeted at families, thrill-seekers, and entertainment enthusiasts of all ages.
• VIP Experience Package Premium upgrade add-on that can be applied to any standard ticket, providing an enhanced experience at the circus performance. Available at time of original ticket purchase or post-purchase.
• Group and School Tickets Group reservation service for parties of 12 or more, including schools, with reserved seating and group rates, handled through Broadway Plus as the official group sales partner.
• Private Events Private event hosting services at the Big Top venue for birthdays, holiday parties, networking events, and other personal celebrations. Arranged through Broadway Plus.
• Full and Partial Performance Buyouts Exclusive buyout options allowing corporate or private hosts to reserve a full or partial performance for private showings, networking events, or corporate functions.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EMC Presents BACflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMC Presents BAC LLC is the presenting entity behind the Big Apple Circus. The company is listed as copyright holder for 2026 and is the primary presenting partner responsible for producing and presenting the show.
• The Gold GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a co-presenter alongside EMC Presents BAC and the Vazquez Family. The Gold Group logo appears prominently on the partnerships section of the website.
• The Vazquez FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a co-presenter alongside EMC Presents BAC and The Gold Group. Family involvement in circus presentation and operations.
• Lincoln CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue partner at Damrosch Park within the Lincoln Center campus. Partnership includes co-marketing and venue access for the seasonal tent setup. Located at 155 W 62nd St, New York, NY 10023.
• EventimcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary online ticketing platform and customer service partner. Handles ticket sales, exchanges, and rebooking through their platform. Affiliate code 9AC tracks sales.
• Broadway PluscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial group sales and private event booking partner. Handles reservations for groups of 12+, school bookings, and corporate event buyouts.
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center New JerseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCross-promotional partner. Logo displayed in partnerships section indicating co-marketing relationship between family entertainment destinations.
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center WestchesterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCross-promotional partner. Logo displayed in partnerships section indicating co-marketing relationship for regional family entertainment.
• ABC7 NYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner with logo displayed on partnerships page. Local broadcast station providing promotional coverage.
• Gristedes SupermarketsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal sponsor and marketing partner. Regional supermarket chain with co-marketing relationship.
• D'AgostinominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal sponsor. New York area grocery chain with marketing partnership.
• HALS New YorkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor with logo displayed on partnerships page. Nature of partnership not detailed.
• Marriott BonvoyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel loyalty program sponsor. Cross-promotional partner providing travel and accommodation benefits for circus attendees.
• WCVBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoston area broadcast station. Media sponsor with logo displayed.
• JP LicksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIce cream and dessert retailer. Local sponsor and marketing partner.
• FCWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor with logo displayed on partnerships page. Nature of partnership not detailed.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in live circus/theatrical entertainment, offering touring and resident shows with elite international performers — the most direct comparand to Big Apple Circus's circus-led, premium live entertainment model.
• Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Iconic American circus that returned in 2023 after a hiatus; competes for the same family and holiday-entertainment audience as Big Apple Circus, particularly in the Northeast U.S. market.

Broad incumbents

• Feld Entertainment: Operates Disney On Ice, Monster Jam, and the revived Ringling Bros.; a broader live family entertainment incumbent with comparable production scale, touring infrastructure, and family-target programming.
• Medieval Times: Dinner-theater chain delivering family entertainment experiences combining live performance with F&B revenue — comparable unit economics (ticket + on-site F&B + merchandise) and family demographic focus.
• Club Med: All-inclusive resort operator with a family entertainment programming pillar (Cirque du Soleil partnership) — comparable family experiential entertainment monetization and Marriott Bonvoy-style travel demand overlap.
• MSG Entertainment / Madison Square Garden Entertainment: Operates premier live entertainment venues and produces family-oriented shows (e.g., MSG Sphere-adjacent productions); directly comparable on the venue-and-live-show stack in the New York market.

Emerging players

• Cavalia: Producer of theatrical equestrian and acrobatic shows under a Big Top-style format; closely mirrors Big Apple Circus's tent-based, family-oriented live entertainment model.
• Cirque Dreams: Touring circus-theater hybrid producing intimate, family-focused shows with international performers — competes directly for the same premium family circus audience.
• Sleep No More / Punchdrunk: Immersive theater operator that competes for the premium adult/family live entertainment dollar in NYC — a competing live entertainment format seeking the same discretionary holiday spend.

Others

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (programming peer): Host venue partner of Big Apple Circus; while not a competitor, the broader Lincoln Center programming calendar (Live at Lincoln Center, family programming) competes for the same holiday family entertainment budget in the same catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bigapplecircus
• Facebookfacebook.com/bigapplecircus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Apple Circus