The circus could come home to Sarasota after nearly 50 years. Sarasota County Agricultural Fair Association officials are working with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey on plans for a new arena that could finally bring "The Greatest Show on Earth" back to town. Ringling Circus Museum curator Debbie Walk explained why the circus left Sarasota in the first place and initially went to Venice.
“When you left the wagons and the street parades behind you, you didn’t need the big piece of land. And they moved into something that was much more useful for the arena show. They left Venice in the 1990’s and now they are getting ready for the next season at the Tampa fairgrounds.”
Current circus owner Kenneth Feld built the company into an enterprise that includes three Ringling Brothers shows and six Disney On Ice performances, all of which could train in Sarasota. The new 60,000-square-foot facility could open in a year hosting community events in addition to winter circus rehearsals.