The United States relies on sports. After some research, I discovered that the sports industry yielded $71.6 billion in 2018, and is estimated to increase to $83.1 billion in 2023.
Living in a Capitalist nation, making money is at the forefront of importance. Ensuring that the economy does not slip, little can stop the big industries from losing their bucks.
At the start of COVID-19, millions of citizens lost their jobs, including myself. I prepared myself for the second recession of my lifetime, guessing where the next few months would take me.
American artists are among the many that remain out of work. Americans for the Arts gave statistics reporting the overall national loss to nonprofit arts organizations since the beginning of COVID-19:
Financial loses are “estimated to be $4.98 billion, to date. They have also lost 208 million admissions due to cancelled events, resulting in a $6.6 billion loss in event-related spending by audiences”.
Contrarily, professional athletes seem to be the exception.
As the NBA is wrapping up their season, and football season is in full swing. Professional athletes continue to thrive throughout the pandemic. Special exceptions are made for players to participate; losing that kind of money is not an option.
Places like Broadway remain closed and don’t have intentions of opening for a while.
Coincidences like this one make me think: why can’t the same exceptions be made for artists on stage and their audiences?
Frequently, I can’t help but think people are playing favorites…
Hannah's Hangout 