Why can the Theatre break-even? Why does The Tampa need contributions to balance its budget?
Simply put, the economic conditions that existed in 1926 no longer exist in today’s marketplace. Tampa Theatre is a very large, complex, and aging facility, and the overhead and maintenance costs are substantial. With a single screen, the theatre cannot realize the economies of scale enjoyed by modern multiplexes. Tampa Theatre’s plight is not unique. America’s downtown movie palaces have been disappearing at an alarming rate over the past 30 years. Because of the economic pressures facing theatres like the Tampa Theatre, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named downtown single-screen theatres to its annual “most endangered places” list.
