Circus CEO: Shutdown ‘is not a win for anyone’
Feld Entertainment looking how to help workers and animals
Kenneth Feld, CEO, Feld Entertainment
For activists it’s about the animals, but the operators of the soon-to-be-defunct Greatest Show on Earth says it’s also about the people.
“Our commitment to our animals is for their lifetime,” Juliette Feld, chief operating officer of Feld Entertainment, said at a news conference Monday in Palmetto, Fla. “Our job now is to find suitable homes for all our animals over the next few months.”
Feld Entertainment operates the iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which the company announced Saturday will shut down this spring after 146 years on the road.
Feld said the company is providing assistance to about 400 people who face losing their jobs. She said a only a few of the workers might land jobs elsewhere in the company, which produces traveling shows from Disney on Ice to Monster (truck) Jam.
Feld said separation packages would be provided to those who lose their jobs.
Those who lived on one of Feld’s two mile-long trains also would need help with housing, she said. CEO Kenneth Feld said he has known some members of the circus crew for nearly 50 years.
“This is not a win for animal rights activists or for anyone,” Feld said.
Animal advocacy group PETA lauded the demise of the circus and urged other acts involving animals to follow suit: “Society has changed, eyes have been opened, people know now who these animals are, and we know it is wrong to capture and exploit them.”
The company has vigorously denied mistreating animals, and the Felds reiterated that position Monday. In 2014, Feld won a multimillion-dollar settlement against the Humane Society and other activists over unproven claims the company was mistreating elephants.
“We won in court,” said Kenneth Feld. “But obviously in the court of public opinion we didn’t prevail.”
The Felds said they are working to find homes for scores of lions, tigers, camels and other animals. The company will continue to care for its retired elephants at its Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida.
The end of the circus wasn’t all about the elephants, they said.
“Let’s face it, times change,” Kenneth Feld said. “Once there were three TV stations. Whoever knew there would be a food channel, a golf channel? We have a world of specialization.”
He said plans are being formulated to preserve some of the classic circus memorabilia.
But the company is moving on, he said.
“This week we had 26 tours going around the world. Two were Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey,” he said.
“The company is a robust company and we are always looking at new entertainment. ... (The circus) is the future until May, then it will be part of our glorious past,” Feld said.
Let’s face it, times change. Once there were three TV stations. ... We have a world of specialization.”