| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 2 |
| Copyright: Other |
Dome introduces themed nights in effort to lift sales
DOME organiser the New Millennium Experience Company has introduced a range of themed nights alongside late-night opening in a bid to increase flagging sales.The attraction, which originally closed at 5pm, is now open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Visitors can purchase Dome Taster tickets after 4pm at the reduced rate of £10 and £5 for children, half the day rate price.
A spokeswoman for the NMEC said: “We are hoping that the late-night ticket will make it easier for people who have things to do in London during the day to come and visit the Dome in the evening.”
Themed events, which have currently been scheduled, included 1960s nights, Elvis nights and Latin American dance nights.
The spokeswoman said the NMEC is considering extending evening opening to most nights of the week during the summer.
Organisers initially expected to attract 12m visitors to the Dome but has had to revise their goal to 10m due to a slow start. Easter visitor numbers are said to have been disappointing with an average of 17,153 people per day, less than half the 35,000 capacity available.
Chief executive Pierre-Yves Gerbeau has denied reports he has asked the Government for an additional £20m of funding and blamed the poor numbers over Easter on poor weather and people going on foreign holidays.
The Dome: disappointing visitors numbers has prompted its organiser to introduce late-night opening and themed evenings