Wrigleyville: Not 3 concerts
Neighbors group: John, Joel OK, Rascal Flatts no
Three Wrigley Field concerts in one week -- including a Saturday night event that conflicts with a popular neighborhood festival -- are too much for Wrigleyville to bear, a community leader said Tuesday, urging the Cubs to cancel the July 18 Rascal Flatts concert.
The Southport Neighbors Association wants local Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) to draw the line at the July 16 and 21 shows by Elton John and Billy Joel.
(John H. White/Sun-Times, AP)
The July 18 concert featuring Rascal Flatts would conflict with the group’s seventh annual Summer on Southport Festival, which features live bands on three stages on Southport between Waveland and Grace.
“Based on their agreement in the past to limit concert events to two nights per year, their request has been met. A third -- especially on a Saturday night -- would be too much for the community to endure on top of a festival. It’s piling on too much for a community already stressed during baseball season,” said Jill Peters, president of the Southport Neighbors Association.
“The July 18 concert will directly compete with our festival. The times are the same. Festivals make money on Saturday night. Our money is used to continue our festival and donate to the community,” said Peters. “We believe that the Cubs should continue to show good faith to the community by canceling the event. We would also like them to adhere to promises made in the past by giving up one night game.”
Tunney could not be reached for comment. He already has introduced an ordinance authorizing concerts with an 11 p.m. cutoff on three of five possible dates: July 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 . Community protections would be similar to those in place during previous concerts by Jimmy Buffett and the Police.
Off-duty police officers would remain on the streets until 2:30 a.m., or three hours after the shows end, whichever is later. Beer and alcohol sales would end at 9:30 p.m.
Sources said the Cubs originally planned to hold two concerts -- one with Elton John and Billy Joel, the other with Rascal Flatts -- to help the promoter defray set-up costs. By the time John and Joel sold out, creating demand for a second show, Rascal Flatts already had been booked, sources said.
“In scheduling world-class performers like Elton John and Billy Joel at Wrigley Field, it comes as part of a negotiation. We have to work with their schedulers and promoters,” said Mike Lufrano, vice president of community relations for the Cubs.
“We wish there weren’t a conflict. I wish there was another date that didn’t pose this issue. We’ll try to work with the Southport Neighbors Association to reach a resolution. We’ve offered to make sure that the community doesn’t lose any donations from this festival,” said Lufrano.