CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. (WKBW) — For the first time in its history, the Chautauqua Institution is serving beer and wine inside its iconic amphitheater, marking a significant change for the historic venue.
The milestone happened during Bonnie Raitt's concert. Patrons could buy alcoholic beverages and bring them into the amphitheater during the show.
The change highlights a shift for the Chautauqua Institution, which didn't allow any alcohol sales until 2017.
"For a long time, we were a dry community," Vanessa Weinert said. "I use that a little loosely because there are lots of stories about 'Chautauqua tea' on people's porches. Was that actually tea in the cup, or was it something else?"
WATCH: Chautauqua Amphitheater now offering wine and beer
Financial Pressures Drive Changes
The institution is implementing these changes after facing significant financial challenges, including lower ticket sales, fewer Canadian visitors and a budget deficit.
"We saw a decline in attendance. We essentially have lost housing at Chautauqua since COVID. A lot of people decided to buy their cottage and not rent it out anymore, so we didn't have enough capacity," Kyle Keough, interim CEO of Chautauqua Institution, said. "So as a result of that, we're not quite at the attendance levels we were prior to the pandemic."
He explained that the institution needs to make budget adjustments in the $4 million to $6 million range.
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