Do We Get Any Say on The Future of Lolla?
Lollapalooza is back in Chicago this weekend. Since it landed in the city in 2005, Lollapalooza has gone from a smaller, two-day fest in Grant Park to a full-on, multi-day takeover of the Loop, the CTA, and other neighborhoods. New reporting from the Chicago Tribune shows the festival is not leaving anytime soon because of a contract extension negotiated in secret. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Tribune reporters Tracy Swartz and A.D. Quig.
We reached out to the park district to ask if there was any public involvement in the contract extension negotiations. They sent us this statement:
"The Chicago Park District’s new leadership is committed to expanding community engagement. We plan to continue our discussions with local elected officials and the neighboring community regarding the future of Lollapalooza. For weeks we have worked with the city, community stakeholders, and Lollapalooza organizers to address issues and concerns raised by the community such as noise levels and site conditions.
Celebrating its 18th year in our city, the festival has become a Chicago tradition. The Chicago Park District and C3 Presents, the organizers of Lollapalooza, are engaged in negotiations and we are hopeful that we will have an agreement in the near future that takes Lollapalooza well beyond 2022."
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