Wrigley Concert Update
This letter was sent to Alderman Schulter 3/11/2009
SOUTHPORT NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION
3501 N. SOUTHPORT AVENUE #201
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60657
INFO@SOUTHPORTNEIGHBORS.COM
BOUNDARIES:
Clark, Addison, Ashland, Irving Park Rd.
March 11, 2009
Dear Alderman Schulter and Members of the Licensing Committee of the City Council:
The Cubs have decided to host three concerts in July 2009, two Elton John/Billy Joel concerts on Thursday July 16th and Tuesday 21st and one concert with the country band Rascal Flatts on Saturday night July 18th. The Southport Neighbors Association (SNA) which sits across the street from Wrigley Field and represents over 700 residents and businesses in the Southport district strongly opposes allowing more than two concerts this year and especially a Saturday night concert.
The Cubs decision to abandon agreements of the past to host a third concert instead of two as in past years, not only violates the spirit and goodwill of the agreements we worked very hard to negotiate with them in the past, but violates the long standing Night Game Ordinance which prohibits night games on Friday and Saturday nights. Further, unlike past years, the concerts this year are not on a holiday and the Cubs have not agreed to give up any night games.
Concerts present unique challenges for our community as there are 2 days of set up, 2 days of take down, several days of loud sound checks at all hours, street closures, disturbing helicopters flying over the neighborhood at all hours, litter and loud parties hosted in the neighborhood. While we have worked hard to minimize the impact of these issues on the community in the past, hosting a concert on a busy Saturday night when there is already significant traffic, congestion, noise, parking, public urination, and late night partying is extremely difficult for our neighbors and many of them have expressed their frustrations to the Alderman.
To further complicate the situation, SNA had planned to host our Summer on Southport festival on July 18th. Summer on Southport is a two day community building and fundraising event which features the best children’s festival in the City. Last year we made donations to Blaine School, the Sheil Park Playground renovation and the Lakeview Pantry. In its 7th year, Summer on Southport has always been scheduled for the only weekend in July when the Cubs are not in town. Because the Cubs promoted and sold tickets to all three concerts without first scheduling around the prohibitions of the night game ordinance or the needs of the community, the SNA Board believes that the stress of two competing musical events within a few blocks of one another will hurt our residents and many of our boutique businesses and will be even more difficult for a not-for-profit organization like ours to finance. For these reasons, our Board has voted to suspend Summer on Southport this year if the Ordinance is passed, with the expectation that it will return in 2010.
We have asked Alderman Tunney to limit future concerts to not more than two in any given year and never on a Friday or Saturday. As in the past, concerts need to be on a holiday with the concession of one night game. We hope that this Committee and the Council will agree. If three concerts are approved for this year including one on a Saturday night, then we respectfully request that the Council demand that the Cubs give up two night games in 2010. Thank you for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
JILL PETERS,
President SNA
