Firm to stage election night event for Obama
Call it "Obamapalooza."
C3 Presents, the Texas concert promoters who bring Lollapalooza to Grant Park each summer, have been tapped to stage the massive celebration the Obama campaign is planning to hold in Grant Park on election night.
(AP)
C3, based in Austin -- just blocks from the Texas capitol where President Bush launched his political career -- is becoming an increasingly powerful player on the Chicago scene, with close ties to Mayor Daley. Though several sources connected to the production confirmed C3's involvement, city officials said they could not.
"We will not be commenting on this," C3 spokeswoman Shelby Meade said.
C3 is midway through a five-year contract for Lollapalooza in Grant Park negotiated by attorney Mark Vanecko, a nephew of Mayor Daley.
The promoters also won a city contract last year to bring a wide range of events to Soldier Field during the Bears' offseason, though they have yet to deliver anything. And C3 officials have said they hope to play a major role if Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics succeeds.
jimdero@jimdero.com