Latest news with #TasteofOrland
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Orland Park projects big deficit on some Centennial Park West concerts; moves Taste of Orland back to Village Green
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.
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Orland Park projects big deficit on some Centennial Park West concerts; moves Taste of Orland back to Village Green
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.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Incoming Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge says he, new trustees want closer look at concert venue
Orland Park's incoming mayor is questioning the timing of additional work being authorized at the village's Centennial Park West concert facility and promised he and incoming trustees will evaluate the venue's future use. Jim Dodge's comments, outlined in a news release, came before the Village Board voted Monday to approve about $1 million in work at the park, 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. Centennial Park West, 15609 Park Station Blvd., is a 12-acre park adjacent to the larger Centennial Park, and is the site of concerts and includes a 3,200-square-foot performance stage. The park is also the site of Orland Park's July Fourth fireworks and last year hosted the annual Taste of Orland, previously held adjacent to Village Hall and the Civic Center. 'This is wasteful, last-minute spending,' Dodge said in the news release. 'We need to evaluate options for the future of the venue prior to even considering any additional spending on an already superfluous project.' 'We are not going to spend more taxpayer dollars on this until we figure out its future,' Dodge said. He said an evaluation of uses would include input from residents. The work was discussed at a committee meeting prior to the board meeting, and will include screens 15 feet by 25 feet. Trustee Bill Healy voted against the project, which was done without seeking bids. Healy asked at the committee meeting whether the village had investigated renting screens when needed. He said it was a large outlay considering the limited number of times during the year the screens would be used. Mayor Keith Pekau said the suggestion was studied, and that it 'was much less expensive to own them than to rent them.' Resident Julie Donovan urged board members Tuesday to 'hit the pause button on this expenditure' until the three new board members are sworn in. She said the 'context and timing raise significant concerns' and questioned whether it was the right decision at this moment. During the mayoral campaign, Dodge was critical of village spending on the music venue, so far estimated to be about $13 million. He said Tuesday that after he and three new trustees are sworn in May 5, they will take a close look at how the venue is used. 'We are going to think long and hard about whether we want to use it for big commercial concerts,' he said. 'What we use it for going forward is the big question.' mnolan@
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Incoming Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge says he, new trustees want closer look at concert venue
Orland Park's incoming mayor is questioning the timing of additional work being authorized at the village's Centennial Park West concert facility and promised he and incoming trustees will evaluate the venue's future use. Jim Dodge's comments, outlined in a news release, came before the Village Board voted Monday to approve about $1 million in work at the park, 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. Centennial Park West, 15609 Park Station Blvd., is a 12-acre park adjacent to the larger Centennial Park, and is the site of concerts and includes a 3,200-square-foot performance stage. The park is also the site of Orland Park's July Fourth fireworks and last year hosted the annual Taste of Orland, previously held adjacent to Village Hall and the Civic Center. 'This is wasteful, last-minute spending,' Dodge said in the news release. 'We need to evaluate options for the future of the venue prior to even considering any additional spending on an already superfluous project.' 'We are not going to spend more taxpayer dollars on this until we figure out its future,' Dodge said. He said an evaluation of uses would include input from residents. The work was discussed at a committee meeting prior to the board meeting, and will include screens 15 feet by 25 feet. Trustee Bill Healy voted against the project, which was done without seeking bids. Healy asked at the committee meeting whether the village had investigated renting screens when needed. He said it was a large outlay considering the limited number of times during the year the screens would be used. Mayor Keith Pekau said the suggestion was studied, and that it 'was much less expensive to own them than to rent them.' Resident Julie Donovan urged board members Tuesday to 'hit the pause button on this expenditure' until the three new board members are sworn in. She said the 'context and timing raise significant concerns' and questioned whether it was the right decision at this moment. During the mayoral campaign, Dodge was critical of village spending on the music venue, so far estimated to be about $13 million. He said Tuesday that after he and three new trustees are sworn in May 5, they will take a close look at how the venue is used. 'We are going to think long and hard about whether we want to use it for big commercial concerts,' he said. 'What we use it for going forward is the big question.'
