Think your neighbors are noisy? Try being a Wrigleyville resident, especially now that Wrigley Field is expecting three concerts all in one week in July.
As most people know, Billy Joel and Elton John were booked for a single performance at Wrigley on Tuesday, July 21. The Cubs then added a Rascal Flatts performance for Saturday, July 18. But when Joel and John agreed to a second show after the first one sold out, locals cried 'Foul'.
It's more than just a noise issue. Residents are concerned about the success of the popular Summer on Southport festival, which features live bands on three stages. The Southport Neighbors Association wants the Cubs to cancel the Rascal Flatts concert, which is scheduled on the same weekend as the local event.
"Based on their agreement in the past to limit concert events to two nights per year, their request has been met," said Jill Peters, president of the neighborhood group, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "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."
Part of the problem though is that when the pop piano stars' first show sold out, Rascal Flatts had already been booked.
"We wish there weren't a conflict," said Mike Lufrano, vice president of community relations for the Cubs. "We've offered to make sure that the community doesn't lose any donations from this festival."
Alderman Thomas Tunney (44th Ward) is working with the Cubs to try to reach an agreement.
Local
Matt Bartosik, editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and "between blogs" blogger, is not a rocket man but is a little-bit-of-piano man.
