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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Adler Planetarium Plans to Raise Prices

News from the first Planetarium in the western Hemisphere....

Chicagoans might have to pay a few more dollars to see the stars.

Adler Planetarium is planning to raise general admission fees by $2 effective Thursday if approved by the Chicago Park District, Senior Vice President for External Affairs Charles Katzenmeyer said in a release.

"The proposed new admission rates at the Adler will remain well in line with its museum peers, while ensuring that general admission will continue to include access to all of the museum's exhibitions," Katzenmeyer said.

Adler sits on Chicago Park District property. The program and recreation committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to decide if the price adjustment will stick.

The price hike comes just two months after Adler was overlooked for the retired NASA shuttle and received a shuttle flight simulator instead.

The planetarium is planning on using the money to open a new 3,200-square foot interactive space called a "Welcome Gallery" this summer, the release said.

This is the first general admisison price increase since March 2007 for Adler.


Source: www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Adler-Planetarium-Planning-to-Raise-Prices-123254653.html#ixzz1ObMMt2ob

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Does this mean that the telescope Facilitators get a raise...?

[patrickm]

Doubled!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Doubled!

Sweet...!

Now I can get the operation...!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Adler Planetarium admission hike grounded

Seems a Chicago Alderman is looking out for the paying public:

The Adler Planetarium’s proposal to hike its admission fees has been tabled after a powerful Chicago alderman on Tuesday raised questions and called for a public hearing on the planned $2 fee increases.

The matter was to go before the Chicago Park District board of commissioners — since the lakefront planetarium sits on park district land — for a vote Wednesday and, if approved, would have kicked in Thursday.

But Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) called for putting the brakes on what he saw as a proposal that seemed to be rocketing through the approval process.

“I think the public has a right to have their voices heard, rather than have a decision reached by the trustees of the Adler Planetarium rubber stamped by the park board,” Burke told the Sun-Times, which first reported on the issue. He also questioned the timing of the increase: “As the kids are getting out of school, they’re jacking up the prices 40 percent?”

He offered the same sentiments Tuesday during a meeting of the City Council Special Events Committee, which he says has some say in park district business.

In light of a possible Council hearing, the proposed fee hike will be shelved for now, Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, a park district spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon.

Under the proposal from planetarium officials, the price to get in to the lakefront museum would go from $8 to $10 for most Chicagoans, from $6 now to $8 for Chicagoans 65 and older and from $5 to $7 for kids 3 to 11.

General admission for non-residents — now $10, $8 for seniors and $6 for kids — would also go up $2.

Burke said this was reminiscent of his 2009 fight over the Art Institute of Chicago’s fee hike, which he said was ultimately scaled back.

Charles Katzenmeyer, Adler’s senior vice president, said the planetarium has no plans to reduce its offerings, which include 52 free days each year — including this week.

“We’re one of those museums who feels we make a difference in the lives of young people because we’re about math and science.”

“But our needs aren’t going away,” he said of the planetarium, which has a $14 million operating budget. “It’s been four years since we raised fees. I don’t think you can go to the grocery store and see something that cost the same as it did four years ago.”

Asked whether the planetarium should have publicized the proposed fee hike, Katzenmeyer said: “It’s a process that the park district has that we have to request to them” any proposals. “I think we requested the opportunity for this [fee increase] several months ago. They let us know which meeting [where it] might get considered. And it just happened to by this one [Wednesday].”

He said planetarium officials will consult with the park board soon about a future request for an admission fee hike.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ald. Burke backs off Adler fee increase opposition

A powerful alderman has dropped his opposition to a bump in entrance fees at the Adler Planetarium in light of the museum’s decision to exempt Chicago children from the increase.

Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, said there is no longer a need to fight the proposed hike because city residents age 11 and younger will still be able to get into Adler for $5. Everybody else, however, will pay $2 more as part of a package the Chicago Park District board still must approve.

Under the proposal the Adler introduced to the park board last month, tickets to the lakefront planetarium would have gone up to $7 for Chicago children.

Upon learning about that plan, Burke said the planetarium was moving ahead too quickly. He called for hearings and said the Adler should keep attendance affordable for children.

So Charles Katzenmeyer, Adler's senior vice president, said the planetarium instead will ask the Park District to approve a plan that will freeze fees for children living in the city and increases them for all others who pass through the turnstiles.

Under the new fee structure, Adler entrance would go up to $10 for Chicago adults and $8 for residents older than 65. Out-of-towners would see the $2 increase, bringing admission to $12 for adults, $8 for kids and $10 for seniors.

The planetarium must receive park board approval for the fee hike because it is located on Park District property. The park board has not yet scheduled the Adler fee package for consideration.

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Way to go Chuck.