Toronto Zoo report shows this past summer was worse attendance than during pandemic
The Toronto Zoo had its fourth worst summer in its 52-year history this year. July attendance was 23% lower than expected, lower even than during the COVID 19 pandemic.
The official tally for the month was 181.739 guests. According to Zoo officials, the reasons for this include hot weather, wildfire smoke and a site-wide power outage on July 1, which required the zoo to close early that day.
Taxpayers will be on the hook for the zoo’s $13.6 million shortfall
April, May and June also had lower attendance than anticipated. There was no mention of the World Cup or its possible impact on attendance in the zoo’s report to Toronto city council.
For the 2027 budget, this means City of Toronto taxpayers will be on the hook for the zoo’s $13.6 million shortfall. While the 2027 budget projects expenditures of $79.9 million, revenues are only anticipated to be $66.3 million.
Looking toward next year, zoo officials say they are guided by their “Four Cares” – animals, team, guests/community and climate. They will focus on belonging, diversity, equity and inclusion by giving free entrance to Toronto school groups, all Indigenous people, and newcomers to Canada. People with disabilities receive a 50% discount on admission and free entrance for a support person.
Not everyone gets in free though. For an average family of four to visit the zoo on a Saturday in October and park a car the total admission cost would be $182.90.
Due to soft attendance, year to date revenues up to the end of July also came in lower than anticipated. Admission sales revenue was -13%, parking -12%, retail -13%, rides and rentals -19% and food services -5%. Despite these overall decreases, the amount each guest spent during their visit was up this year. The total spend per guest came out at $45.85, up from $43.64 last year.
Despite the poor summer attendance, Zoo administrators are hoping for a fall recovery and to reach the target of 1.39 million annual visits.
The zoo is banking on its new evening lantern festival, “Glow in the Wild,” the completion of the Community Conservation Centre and the end of the construction at the front entrance that comes with it. They also hope to see a boost from school visits and new baby animals (pygmy hippo, camel, wombat) to draw in more visitors.
The Zoo hosted a number of special events over the summer including, the Rainbow Zone, 1000 Lanterns Festival, Scarborough One Love Festival and Ontario Soccer Day in June and the Indigenous Tourism Ontario culinary and cultural event and drone show on July 19.
