Its gaming tables may be making more money than those of Las Vegas but Macau's attempts to position itself as an all-round entertainment destination have taken a severe blow after Cirque Du Soleil failed to draw the crowds to the Venetian Macao.
The avant-garde circus troupe, a massive hit in the United States, will hold its last performance next Sunday at the Sands-owned casino resort, amid reports that just 40 per cent of seats at the 1,800 seat purpose-built theatre had been filled for many shows.
A spokeswoman for the Venetian Macao denied poor ticket sales were to blame for the decision to end the multimillion-dollar partnership just three years into a 10-year agreement.
'We have conducted market research recently and it has shown customer demand for more alternative entertainment options,' she said. She would not say whether a cancellation fee had been paid.
When the show opened in mid-2008, Cirque president Daniel Lamarre said the idea was to create 'destination shows' where tourists would visit Macau specifically for a performance, as in Las Vegas.
Sands China spent more than US$100 million building the theatre and the venue will now be redesigned to offer more entertainment options, the spokeswoman said.