Very sad news hit hard around the country this past weekend. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will end "The Greatest Show on Earth" in May, following a 146-year run.

Our new partner, WZZM TV13, reported Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, which owns the circus, told The Associated Press declining attendance combined with high operating costs are among the reasons for closing.

"The Greatest Show on Earth" had been coming to Grand Rapids and entertaining families for nearly 20 years, since the early days of the VanAndel Arena. But, it seems as if last years appearance of the circus will be the last.

Feld said when the company removed the elephants from the shows in May of 2016, ticket sales declined more dramatically than expected.

The company broke the news to circus employees Saturday night after shows in Orlando and Miami.

Getty Images for Ringling Bros/Loccisano/Getty Images for Ringling Bros)

The clowns have been such a part of Americana for well over 100 years, and the performers, animals, etc., what will become of them. What a loss.

Ringling Bros. has two touring circuses this season and will perform 30 shows between now and May. The final shows will be in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 7 and in Uniondale, New York, at the Nassau County Coliseum on May 21.

How do you feel about this? Let me know.