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The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus went out of business more than four years ago in May 2017 after operating for 146 years. But it looks like it's going to make a comeback, with a Feld Entertainment Inc. spokesperson saying an announcement is expected sometime next year that the circus is coming back, but without any animal acts. Expensive court battles with animals rights activists played a role in the 2017 closing of the circus. In addition to costing money to fight, ticket sales fell after Ringling eliminated elephants acts in 2016 due to the fights with activists. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other activists had long charged that the circus mistreated the animals in its shows. Other factors cited in the circus closing included higher railroad costs, and the rise of online games and videos