Memphis Zoo says attendance dropped after 2022 crimes, leading to deficits
by: David Royer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Zoo is asking city and county governments for $3 million in operational support, saying attendance has seen a “tremendous drop” due to visitors’ perception of safety in the city after some high-profile crimes.
Zoo officials shared attendance and revenue numbers with Memphis City Council members Tuesday, showing more than 1 million visitors to the zoo in 2019, and again in 2022 after attendance rebounded following the COVID pandemic closure.
But those numbers dipped by close to 20% beginning in 2023, leading to operating deficits the past two years.
“We saw a tremendous decrease in our attendance,” said Matt Thompson, president and CEO of the Memphis Zoo. “If people aren’t coming through our gate, then we aren’t making revenue.”
Thompson told council members the decline was directly related to the kidnapping and killing of Eliza Fletcher and the mass shooting carried out by Ezekiel Kelly.
Both crimes struck in the Midtown area in late 2022, and Thompson said they scared away visitors who have never come back.
“We were told directly by our members that people were nervous to come back into the city,” Thompson said. “We’ve seen some people leave the city, we’ve seen that kind of thing. Our numbers have been very, very slow to come back.”
The revenue decline is creating a need for an additional $3 million, Thompson said, and the zoo is asking both the city and county for $1.5 million each. The zoo plans to use that money for deferred maintenance.
The city’s management fee for the zoo is currently $1.2 million, the same as it was in 1989, Thompson said.
Still, there were many positive notes in the zoo’s presentation. The Memphis Zoo is the top attraction in West Tennessee and was rated the No. 2 zoo in the country, with 52% of visitors coming from outside the region, creating an economic impact of $89.4 million.
The Memphis Zoo is undertaking a $250 million campus plan that will add an Africa exhibit featuring elephants, and an Oceans to Forests exhibit with both aquarium and rain forest habitats over the next three years.
Council members were supportive of the zoo’s efforts and offerings, though they asked for more details on the zoo’s finances.
“This is an amazing asset and we need to figure out how to support it and keep it,” Councilwoman Rhonda Logan said.
“Our zoo is one of the best zoos in the world, and it’s one of the treasures of our city, so it’s budget season, we’ll get through this, and you have my support,” Councilman Philip Spinosa said.
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