Big Apple Circus
Big Apple Circus is a privately held, 48-year-old live entertainment company that produces annual one-ring European-style circus shows at seasonal Big Top venues in New York City (Lincoln Center) and Boston (Suffolk Downs), serving families, schools, and corporate clients through ticket sales, VIP upgrades, and private events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersNew York City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Apple Circus does
Big Apple Circus is a privately held live entertainment company that produces annual one-ring European-style circus shows under a Big Top tent. Founded in 1977 by Paul Binder and Michael Christensen — former European street performers who positioned the venture as an artistic alternative to the spectacle-oriented American three-ring circus — the company is currently operated by EMC Presents BAC LLC with co-presenting partners The Vazquez Family and The Gold Group. The company has reached its 48th consecutive season and is headquartered in New York City with a second seasonal operating presence in Boston.
The core product is a 2-hour 10-minute live circus production featuring international performers — aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, comedians, and the Olate family's performing dogs — sourced from countries including Chile, Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain, Guinea, Russia, Mongolia, and Ethiopia. Each year the company mounts an all-new themed production with rotating directors, designers, and performers. Production technology is fundamentally traditional: live performance art augmented by contemporary lighting effects (fog, haze, strobes, lasers), with no proprietary software or digital IP layer. The underlying ticket sales infrastructure runs on the Eventim platform, with LAZ Parking providing advance parking booking integration at Lincoln Center.
The business model is direct-to-consumer ticket sales supplemented by ancillary revenue streams: on-site food and beverage concessions, retail merchandise, VIP experience upgrades (available both at purchase and post-purchase), private event buyouts for corporate clients, and discounted group tickets (12+ NYC, 10+ Boston) processed through channel partners Broadway Plus and Boch Center. Revenue is concentrated into roughly 13 weeks of operation per year — November through early January in NYC and October through early November in Boston. Customer segments include families with children (primary), schools and educational groups, corporate/private event hosts, and individual circus enthusiasts. The company employs 149 people and has no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or external funding.
Big Apple Circus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Apple Circus
- Legal name
- EMC Presents BAC LLC
- Website
- https://bigapplecircus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Big Apple Circus is a privately held, 48-year-old live entertainment company that produces annual one-ring European-style circus shows at seasonal Big Top venues in New York City (Lincoln Center) and Boston (Suffolk Downs), serving families, schools, and corporate clients through ticket sales, VIP upgrades, and private events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Apple Circus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Entertainment
- NAICS
- Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)
Keywords
Where Big Apple Circus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Big Apple Circus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from individual and group ticket purchases through Eventim online platform and physical box offices. Premium pricing for VIP experiences with upgrade options available post-purchase.
- Food and Beverage: On-site food and beverage concessions available for purchase during performances. No outside food or beverage permitted.
- Retail Merchandise: On-site retail merchandise available for purchase.
- Private Events: Private event bookings including holiday parties, birthdays, networking events, and full/partial performance buyouts for corporate groups.
- Group Sales: Discounted group tickets for 10-12+ attendees from schools and organizations, processed through partner platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VIP Experience Upgrade |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Group Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Military/First Responder Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ticket Exchange Fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Big Apple Circus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Apple Circus presents one-ring European-style live circus performances staged under a Big Top tent, featuring international circus artists and acrobats. The company sells tickets to these seated tent performances, alongside VIP hospitality upgrades, food and beverage concessions, branded merchandise, private/corporate event rentals, and group bookings for schools and organizations at its New York City (Lincoln Center) and Boston (Suffolk Downs) venues.
Product overview
Big Apple Circus is a one-ring circus experience offering live theatrical performances under a Big Top tent. The core product is the main circus show featuring international performers from countries including Chile, Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain, Guinea, Russia, Mongolia, and Ethiopia. The company offers the main show as its primary product, supplemented by a VIP Package upgrade, private event hosting services, group ticket sales, and a fee-based ticket exchange service. The show runs in two locations: New York City (Lincoln Center, November 7, 2025 – January 4, 2026) and Boston (Suffolk Downs, October 9 – November 2, 2025). The experience also includes food and beverage, retail merchandise, and interactive photo opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Big Apple Circus Main Show An annual live circus performance presented under a Big Top tent at Lincoln Center in New York City, featuring international circus artists performing original acts. Ticketed seating with assigned seats and is open to general audiences including families and thrill-seekers.
- Big Apple Circus Boston Show A live circus performance presented under a Big Top tent at Suffolk Downs in Boston, featuring the same touring company of international circus artists performing under a themed annual production. Intended for general audiences in the Greater Boston area.
- VIP Package Upgrade A premium upgrade purchased alongside a standard ticket that includes reserved premium seating and inclusive food and beverage service at the Big Top tent for guests seeking an enhanced experience.
- Private Event Booking A full-tent private rental of the Big Top venue offered to corporations, nonprofits, schools, and private groups for receptions, corporate events, fundraising galas, and private parties held outside regular public performance hours.
- Group and School Tickets Discounted ticketed group packages designed for school groups, youth organizations, and large parties, including designated school matinee performances and group sales partnerships with Broadway Plus in New York and Boch Center in Boston.
Companies that use Big Apple Circus
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Big Apple Circus technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Big Apple Circus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EMC Presents BACcorePrimary presenting partner for the Big Apple Circus show production. EMC Presents BAC LLC is the legal entity producing the circus performances.
- The Vazquez FamilycoreCo-presenting partner contributing family legacy and expertise in circus production and performance.
- The Gold Group (TGG)coreCo-presenting partner and website sponsor. Strategic partner for overall show presentation and production.
- ABC7 NYminorOfficial media partner for New York City market. Cross-promotional content and audience reach through WABC-TV.
- Lincoln CentercoreHost venue partner for NYC performances in Damrosch Park. Premier performing arts center providing prestigious venue location.
- EventimcorePrimary ticketing platform provider for online ticket sales, box office operations, VIP upgrades, and ticket exchange processing.
- Broadway PluscoreNYC group sales partner handling reservations for 12+ attendees including school groups and private events.
- LAZ ParkingminorOfficial parking partner with advance booking links featured on Big Apple Circus website. Parking revenue share arrangement.
- LEGOLAND Discovery CenterminorSponsors with logo placement on website. Locations in New Jersey and Westchester for cross-promotional audience sharing.
- Gristedes SupermarketsminorSponsor with logo placement on website. Local supermarket chain for New York market awareness.
- D'AG (Dagny)minorSponsor with logo placement on website. New York-based retail partner.
- HALS New YorkminorSponsor with logo placement on website. Real estate/property management partner.
- WCVBminorOfficial media partner for Boston market. Cross-promotional content through WCVB-TV.
- Boch CentercoreBoston group sales partner handling reservations for 10+ attendees including school groups and private events. Contact: [email protected]
- Suffolk DownscoreBoston venue host at 525 McClellan Highway, East Boston. Horse racing facility converted to event space for Big Apple Circus Boston.
- National Amusements/Showcase CinemasminorSponsor with logo placement on website. Movie theater chain for Boston market cross-promotion.
- Honey Dew DonutsminorSponsor with logo placement on website. New England-based donut chain for Boston market.
- Boston 25 NewsminorMedia partner for Boston market coverage through WFXT-TV.
- Holy Cow Ice Cream CafeminorSponsor with logo placement on website. Ice cream parlor chain for Boston market cross-promotion.
- MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)minorPublic transit partner. Suffolk Downs station on Blue Line provides public transportation access to Boston venue.
- Marriott BonvoyminorWebsite sponsor. Hotel loyalty program partner for audience reach to traveling visitors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Apple Circus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cirque Dreams: Touring and resident theatrical circus productions with rotating casts and Big Top/venue formats. Comparable artistic positioning and family/adult crossover audience, though typically at smaller scale and shorter runs than Big Apple Circus.
Broad incumbents
- Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Host venue and broader performing-arts programming organization at the same NYC campus where Big Apple Circus performs (Damrosch Park). Competes for audience attention, holiday-season ticket budgets, and family programming slots within Lincoln Center's own season.
- Madison Square Garden Entertainment: Owner of MSG, Radio City Music Hall (home of the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular), and other live entertainment venues. Direct competitor for holiday-season family entertainment in NYC, and operator of the Rockettes show — a comparable seasonal family-entertainment product.
- The Broadway League (Broadway shows): NYC's broader live theatrical entertainment ecosystem competes with Big Apple Circus for holiday-season family entertainment dollars and discretionary spend. Broadway shows also occupy Lincoln Center-area venues and share the same tourist and group-sales channels.
Direct peers
- Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in theatrical circus-style productions under the Big Top and in resident venues. Most direct comparable: premium-priced, artistically driven circus entertainment targeting families and adults, with rotating shows, VIP packages, and group/corporate sales — the same model Big Apple Circus operates at smaller scale.
- Cavalia: Big Top tent show featuring horses and acrobats with premium ticket pricing, VIP packages, and group sales. Direct comparability in format (touring Big Top), target market (family + corporate), and ticketing/ancillary revenue model.
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Historic American three-ring touring circus that returned in 2023 after a 2017 closure. Direct competitor for U.S. family circus ticket dollars, though Big Apple Circus differentiates via its intimate one-ring European format versus Ringling's larger-scale spectacle.
- UniverSoul Circus: Touring Big Top circus targeting families with rotating international casts and music-driven performances. Same product category (single-tent circus), overlapping audience, and comparable ticket/ancillary revenue mix — a smaller-scale direct peer.
- Circus Vargas: California-based touring Big Top circus presenting traditional-style family shows with rotating performers. Comparable product, similar one-ring presentation, and overlapping family/corporate group audience — a regional but directly competitive operator.
Regional players
- Sarasota Circus Festival / Circus Arts Foundation: Sarasota, FL-based circus arts organization and festival. Operates in a regional rather than NYC/Boston geography, but shares the mission of preserving and presenting classical one-ring circus arts — useful comparability for programming and audience-development strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Apple Circus social profiles
Digital presenceBig Apple Circus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Apple Circus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Big Apple Circus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Apple Circus 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 Big Apple Circus
What does Big Apple Circus do?
Big Apple Circus presents one-ring European-style live circus performances staged under a Big Top tent, featuring international circus artists and acrobats. The company sells tickets to these seated tent performances, alongside VIP hospitality upgrades, food and beverage concessions, branded merchandise, private/corporate event rentals, and group bookings for schools and organizations at its New York City (Lincoln Center) and Boston (Suffolk Downs) venues.
Is Big Apple Circus a public or private company?
Big Apple Circus is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Apple Circus founded?
Big Apple Circus was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Big Apple Circus based?
Big Apple Circus is headquartered in New York City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Apple Circus make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are food and Beverage, retail Merchandise, private Events and group Sales.
Who are Big Apple Circus's main competitors?
Cirque Dreams is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Madison Square Garden Entertainment and The Broadway League (Broadway shows). Direct peers are Cirque du Soleil, Cavalia, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, UniverSoul Circus and Circus Vargas. Sarasota Circus Festival / Circus Arts Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does Big Apple Circus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Apple Circus.
What industry is Big Apple Circus in?
Big Apple Circus's product category is Live Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAFAH, Circus, Magic & Variety Shows, with a secondary code of MPAGABAL, Circus & Physical Theatre. Its NAICS code is 711 and its SIC code is 7900.