Britney Spears' much-mediated Circus tour kicks off on March 3 in New Orleans and, amidst preparations for the physically-demanding show, the pop star has reportedly other things as well that trouble her. Although fans have been positively dying to see Spears back on stage performing, sources close to the singer tell the media that ticket sales have been disappointing so far. Recession is taking its toll on Britney’s long overdue comeback, reports have it.

Yesterday, it emerged that her opening act for Circus, the Pussycat Dolls, were having financial issues, which forced them to see their male dancers go. Now, new reports have it that Britney too is seeing recession ruining her comeback, in that sales are dwindling, which means she won’t be able to fill the venues she is scheduled to perform. It is worth mentioning, though, that, at this point, this report has not been confirmed either by Britney’s team or by the concert organizers.

“Group sales are down considerably, and then you’ve got individual tickets that cost as much as $500 apiece. That’s a lot of money to spend on an artist who isn’t a sure bet right now.” HollywoodRag writes, citing an unnamed source. If true, this could really be devastating for Spears, as she sees Circus as her last shot at making her comeback. “She’s worked really, really hard to make this good. Granted, there’ve been some hiccups along the way, but she’s going to put on a good show. I just hope there are people there to see it. This is really her last chance.” the same source reportedly explains.

Last week, illusionist and comedian Ed Alonzo spoke with the media about what fans should expect from Britney’s circus, after working with the star on some very high-tech “magic” tricks. “We’re going to be doing the classics of magic but a little high-tech. We’ll be doing a little dissection, transposition, a vanish, an appearance – and if I do a trick, she doesn’t just hold the props, she’s actually getting inside the big boxes or I am slicing her up. It’s going to be an amazing concert for people to watch. It’s like watching a big Cirque du Soleil high-tech circus, but with a really focused star in the middle of all of this.” Alonzo has told E! Online about the surprises of Circus Starring Britney Spears.

Other than this, the concerts will also include a 3-ring circus, to make the experience seem more true-to-life. Britney’s Circus kicks off in New Orleans and concludes on April 28 in Chicago.