Dirt-poor Reading residents not going to pay top dollar to see ancient pop stars anymore

The group that runs the Sovereign Center and the Sovereign Performing Arts Center released some grim numbers Thursday and no matter how you crunch the  numbers the venues are staring at huge losses: $346,000 for the season that ends June 30.

That caps a nine-year run of $788,000 in total profits and untold millions poured into downtown businesses.

What happened?

People are sick of Cirque de Soleil. Fans will flock to Royals games...if...tickets are given on the cheap. Kenny Rogers holiday shows are stretched thinner than the old guy's facelift. Seventies music is now so seventies music.

Our city fathers are hustling for solutions.

What's on the table so far:

• Run the parking meters all evening and kick back the profits to the arenas
• Build a hotel across the street.
• More Jehovah's Witnesses!

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