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Riot Fest departure from Chicago's Douglass Park sparks more debate over costs and gains for community

Rebecca Johnson, Jake Sheridan and Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune on

Published in Entertainment News

Further complicating the picture, the fest is set for SeatGeak Stadium the same weekend of Sept. 21 that the Chicago Red Stars women’s pro soccer team is set to host a match. Sources told the Tribune that the team was considering legal action if the fest forces them to move.

Bridgeview officials issued a statement Thursday that the Red Stars contract allows other events to be held at the same time.

Teams that played at the stadium, including the Chicago Fire men’s soccer team, the Chicago Hounds rugby team, and the Red Stars themselves, have moved games or worked cooperatively to hold concurrent events without issues, according to the statement.

While Riot Fest is expected to set up in the parking lot outside the stadium, the Red Stars were told in April about the possibility of needing to move their match. Village officials said they would work with the team to ensure “an optimal experience” for fans that day, or whenever they choose to play the game.

The team recently set an attendance record with 35,000 fans at a one-time game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are playing at Wrigley on Sept. 21, but Guaranteed Rate Field is open while the White Sox are away.

Cultural events at Chicago parks generate $20 million annually for the Park District, and tax revenue for the city.

 

Asked if he views the departure as a loss for the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson instead highlighted other neighborhood and downtown festivals.

Johnson added that he is still gathering information to better understand any possible “communications breakdowns.”

“We’ll figure out where those disconnects are and find opportunities where we can either build, mend or create,” he said.

Bridgeview officials said they were trying to maximize revenues for their taxpayers. A municipal tax could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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