Hold on to your wallets, stargazers, and planetarium aficionados—the cost of getting cosmic at Chicago's Adler Planetarium is set to hit a little harder. Adults and children alike will see admission fees increase starting April 1, commissioners approved during a recent Chicago Park District Board meeting. According to NBC Chicago, Chicago residents will be digging deeper into their pockets, with fees for children aged 3-11 rising from $6 to $8, and adult admission jumping from $17 to $20. But it's non-residents who will really feel the pinch, with their ticket prices soaring from $8 to $13 for children and from $19 to $25 for adults.
Battling back from the financial black hole induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Adler has yet to witness a full return to its pre-crisis visitor figures, holding steady at a modest 85%. Michelle Larson, the planetarium's CEO, and president, revealed in an interview with WTTW News that despite reducing their staff by a third, increased costs have left the iconic institution grappling for a way to keep their financial head above water—a struggle not unique, as shoestring budgets have become a bit of a theme for many cultural hotspots in the post-pandemic era.
But it's not all about the moolah, as the Adler has committed to 52 admission-free days annually for those looking to save some green. Free nights on Wednesdays, running from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., are often their most popular, according to Larson. In addition, a slew of discounts are also available for veterans, military personnel, teachers, and Chicago police and firefighters, the planetarium's website noted. So while the price hike might sting some, Adler's attempts to stay accessible haven’t gone supernova just yet.
Last year's inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race left many wondering if it would drive visitors away from Adler's galactic displays. Instead, Larson commented that the planetarium chose to remain open during the race, visitors were still greeted by a spectacle they ended up breaking even, compared to the previous year's attendance—a "loss" when considering the year's upward trajectory in visitor numbers. Despite this speed bump, the Chicago Park District Board has given the green light for the fee increase, aligning the Adler with the field's heavyweights like the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry in terms of ticket pricing.
