Orland Park projects big deficit on some Centennial Park West concerts; moves Taste of Orland back to Village Green

Chicago Tribune

22-05-2025

Orland Park is projecting a loss of more than $500,000 for some upcoming summer concerts scheduled at its new Centennial Park West concert venue.
The figure is based on estimated ticket sales for the events scheduled for July and August, and the village is already committed to paying the bands that are lined up, a bill of more than $500,000.
New Mayor Jim Dodge, during his campaign in which he defeated two-term Mayor Keith Pekau, was critical of the village spending on the concert venue and said Orland Park was losing money on the events.
Orland Park and other communities typically subsidize a good chunk of the cost for special events, such as concerts, hoping to make back some of the money through revenue from things such as ticket sales.
Spending and revenue projections were discussed by the Village Board committee meeting Monday. The board narrowly voted to bring the annual Taste of Orland food and music fest back to the Village Green, adjacent to Village Hall and the Civic Center.
That's where it has been held until last year, when it was moved to Centennial Park West.
Adjacent to the larger Centennial Park, Centennial Park West, 15609 Park Station Blvd., is a 12-acre park and includes a 3,200-square-foot permanent performance stage.
The park is also the site of Orland Park's Fourth of July fireworks.
Last month, before Dodge and three trustees he ran with were sworn in, the former Village Board approved about $1 million for work at Centennial West, including installation of two large video screens. The screens could be used for showing up-close shots of performers on stage, but also to show movies, village officials said.
Several concerts are scheduled for the Centennial Park West venue this summer, including Yacht Rock and Soft Rock Night on July 12, with Firefall and Ambrosia opening for headliner Pablo Cruise.
Also on tap are Lynyrd Skynrd performing on Aug. 8 and Trace Adkins on Aug. 30.
According to the village, projected revenue, including tickets sold so far, for all three events will be $468,600. Total expenses for the three events are expected to be a bit more than $1 million.
The hiring of the headliners and opening acts for all three nights, budgeted at $500,000, will be $561,000, according to the village.
The village expects that overall revenues, including beverage sales and future ticket purchases, for the three nights will fall short of expenses by $537,380.
While the numbers were discussed by trustees, there was no action taken.
All of the acts scheduled to perform are under contract, meaning they'll be paid if the village decided to cancel, said Ray Piattoni, the village's director of recreation and parks.
Piattoni said 'special events are very difficult to break even' on, and said the annual Taste event typically costs about $100,000 more to host than is recouped in revenue. He said Orland Park subsidizes 52% of the cost for special events such as concerts and Taste.
Piattoni said the Taste draws 20,000 to 30,000 people annually over the course of three days.
Resident Joe Solek, before the Village Board voted 4-3 to bring Taste back to Village Green, urged against the move.
He said at the Village Green site, the village has to rent a stage, lights and sound equipment, things already in place at the Centennial Park West venue.
Solek said it would be 'a step backward in the evolution of the village' to relocate the event.
Another resident said he favored bringing Taste back to its original site, calling it 'the heart of the village.'
Trustee John Lawler said he spoke with many residents while campaigning and said most were not happy with Taste being moved to Centennial Park West.
'It's the center of Orland Park and appeals to more people there,' Lawler said.
Trustee Cynthia Katsenes, who voted against the move, said she's heard just the opposite, with many 'folks saying how they liked it better' at the new site.
Trustee Bill Healy, also voting against moving Taste, said he thought it went 'splendidly' at Centennial Park West.
'Long term, that's the future of it,' Healy said.
Trustee Dina Lawrence, who supported bringing the event back to Village Green, said it had more of a 'neighborly' feel there.
'Maybe we won't do it forever (at Village Green), maybe we'll change our minds,' she said.