Decline in Show Place Arena attendance worrying businesses

Fewer people have been visiting the Show Place Arena and Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro in recent months, causing some local business owners to worry that the area's biggest regional attraction won't be able to put as much money into the local economy.

About 87,000 people attended events at the venue between September 2008 and January 2009, down more than 17 percent from the same period in the year before, according to figures from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which owns the venue. Overall revenue also declined sharply, dropping by more than 23 percent during the same period.