BAT has a number of metrics to determine where its audience comes from: online ticket sales; audience questionnaires; phone number prefixes; return of postcards for $2.00 discount on ticket prices; and a few more. While not perfect, BAT has a pretty good idea where its audience comes from.
When you first look at the break down there is a significant portion who come from Bellevue, Redmond and the East Side. This could be because BAT produces high quality theater and Burien is just down 405. If you avoid rush hour the commute is straightforward and painless.
BAT also has free onsite parking, so there is no drama finding a place to park. Even in the rain, the longest walk is across the parking lot.
I recently crossed 520 from Seattle and paid a toll. If you live on the East Side and want to see theater in Seattle with the toll on 520, it can be as much as $4.10 per crossing just to get to the theater. Then there is parking. (Ouch.) However, getting to BAT is it a straight shot down 405. BAT is just a few blocks off of the end of 509 (the unofficial end of 405 ) Except during rush hour, that commute is a charm.
Over the last 10 years or so, BAT has monitored where its audience comes from, and the East Side has always been a large proportion of BAT’s audience. It is the tolls on 520? Is it because BAT continues to do better live theater? Is there another reason? Who knows, but BAT is glad to provide entertainment to those living on the Eat Side. Burien’s ever growing list of restaurants are also happy to feed BAT patrons before and after a show.
Whether you live on the Eat Side or not, see you at A Christmas Twist! (TICKETS for A Christmas Twist. )