Park not eager for Cirque du Soleil run

Santa Monica, Calif. -- The operators of an amusement park in Santa Monica, Calif., say they are not eagerly anticipating an upcoming two-month run of Cirque du Soleil.

Mary Ann Powell, chief executive of Pacific Park, said the amusement park is not like others businesses that are predicting the circus will help bolster their revenues, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Powell said park officials are concerned the location tabbed for the circus act will block more than 700 parking spaces park visitors typically use.

Parking will likely become a serious issue when Pacific Park customers are forced to compete with Cirque du Soleil fans, Powell added.

"It's difficult to find ourselves as the sole major business that does not anticipate a major windfall from Cirque," she told the Times. "It's not a comfortable position to be in, because usually everyone's interests are in tandem."

The newspaper said Cirque du Soleil and its famous acrobatic performers are to begin shows in Santa Monica on Oct. 16.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.