But despite the fact that revenue from the sale of tickets for the 2006-07 season is expected to break the all-time sales record of $11,169,090 (set in the orchestra's 2003-04 centennial season), SSO management expects its deficit to be $2.3 million for this season, according to the Times. That would bring the orchestra's total deficit (since 2001-02) to $5.5 million.

The Times cites various factors; of particular significance is that the three-year, $5 million gift from the Charles Simonyi Fund for the Arts and Sciences has run out and other donors have not stepped forward with equivalent donations.