BREAKING: Evanston Land Use Commission votes to approve new Ryan Field, denies rezoning
Northwestern clears its first major hurdle in building its new stadium.
www.insidenu.com
Evanston approves stadium, not concerts
- Thread starter phatcat
- Start date
www.insidenu.com
I was a little surprised to not see more chatter about this here.
For those who don't bother to click on articles...the Land Use Commission (LUC...not to be confused with Loyola University Chicago) only makes recommendations - the City Council can choose to ignore them if they wish, although I imagine that would be bold sauce.
I would be really stunned to see Northwestern not go full speed ahead even if the concert provisions aren't approved - I seriously doubt the project would truly be "cost prohibitive" without the concert piece, and I would think on principle the university wouldn't halt the project and give the NIMBYs a win.
For those who don't bother to click on articles...the Land Use Commission (LUC...not to be confused with Loyola University Chicago) only makes recommendations - the City Council can choose to ignore them if they wish, although I imagine that would be bold sauce.
I would be really stunned to see Northwestern not go full speed ahead even if the concert provisions aren't approved - I seriously doubt the project would truly be "cost prohibitive" without the concert piece, and I would think on principle the university wouldn't halt the project and give the NIMBYs a win.
You would think the athletic department would use this as a point of excitement or marketing.
Don't think there is anything to celebrate. NU has made it pretty clear there isn't a project until the concert piece is approved.
Either that or commit to fielding a competitive football team not dependent on visiting crowds.
I think we should go ahead and build it. I would hope something could be worked out with the community to have a limited number of concerts at the new facility but realize there will be challenges with logistics of parking and transportation and other ways to ameliorate the concerns of the local community. I’ve mentioned that the new Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley has had success in hosting concerts at the new San Diego State venue. At least 1/3 of patrons attending football games and concerts park remotely and use the Trolley and busses to attend events. The stadium sound system is designed to focus sound to stay within the stadium to minimize the noise impact on surrounding communities. As I’ve gotten older I’ve personally avoided the hassle of attending large concerts but I will be attending a concert at Snapdragon in the near future to check it out.
Evanstonians may be ok with some concerts and not others. Barry Manilow, Up With People and The Beach Boys are ‘yes’ but everything else, not so much.
Time for compromise...
NU agrees to no concerts at RF, Evanston allows them at WR (still prohibited I believe).
NU agrees to no concerts at RF, Evanston allows them at WR (still prohibited I believe).
Not a bad idea. Increase the number to 10-12? Have to think the local Evanston businesses would be onboard with the extra visitors concerts would generate. The hospitality is still struggling post COVID.
Everyone here keeps talking about concert day traffic issues/noise from event itself. One other thing LUC emphasized as a big factor (again, according to them) was all the stuff that comes along with -- the big trucks with equipment for set up and breakdown that they envision disturbing residents as well. As for sustainability $$, they wondered why NU first said they needed 20 (I might be wrong on that); then 12; then 6 concerts. NU had responses for both, but LUC didn't like the answers.
Those trucks tend to move in the darkest of hours to avoid traffic. They roll in and out just like the NUFB semi. So non factor.
Agreed, don't have to convince me. NU mentioned their plan for dedicated access for the trucks and the timing. But as I said, just another thing that the LUC wasn't buying about concerts. Hopefully ECC will be more reasonable. Some on LUC said something to the effect of "dropping the United Center into Evanston" in terms of concert prep.
For what it’s worth, if there’s a 50k band on tour, it’s hitting Chicago no matter what. Sustainability-wise, it’s better that heavy machinery hit Evanston and not Wrigley or Soldier Field; considerably fewer idling vehicles and general distribution in that case.
So there’s definitely a ‘harm reduction’ argument for Evanston versus Chicago tours.
I don’t have a specific date. But don’t recall a concert at Welsh Ryan in the last 25 years. Certainly nothing on a regular basis.
I saw Elvis Costello do an entirely acoustic show there in 1989 I think. It was fantastic!
The new stadium would be an interesting entry into the landscape of venues in Chicago because it would compete directly with Wrigley Field, which, once you get past the mystique of the friendly confines, is a pretty terrible place to see a show for 40-45K crowds. Soldier Field is closer to 70-75K for shows, and AllState/United Center is around 20-25K. So this actually makes me wonder if the Ricketts family has been a behind-the-scenes voice in the conversation at all.
Shows that hit Wrigley in 2023:
Dead & Company
Pink
Fall Out Boy
Morgan Wallen
Bruce Springsteen
Guns N Roses
2022:
Def Leppard/Motley Crue/Poison/Joan Jett
Chris Stapleton
Zac Brown Band
Lady Gaga
The Lumineers
...If I'm an Evanston resident, I probably wouldn't want the Dead & Co, GNR, or Gaga crowds meandering down Central Street...but early "Evanston Neighbors" exclusive access to Bruce? Pink? Stapleton?
Shows that hit Wrigley in 2023:
Dead & Company
Pink
Fall Out Boy
Morgan Wallen
Bruce Springsteen
Guns N Roses
2022:
Def Leppard/Motley Crue/Poison/Joan Jett
Chris Stapleton
Zac Brown Band
Lady Gaga
The Lumineers
...If I'm an Evanston resident, I probably wouldn't want the Dead & Co, GNR, or Gaga crowds meandering down Central Street...but early "Evanston Neighbors" exclusive access to Bruce? Pink? Stapleton?
Not trying to push the Boss out the door just yet, but he will be 77 in the fall of '26. Wait -- maybe that's better for the neighbors... small acoustic concert?
I think Ryan Field would have the same types of performers that the Notre Dame football stadium does.
More likely to see Las Vegas/Atlantic City type singers rather than the Swifty crowd.
More likely to see Las Vegas/Atlantic City type singers rather than the Swifty crowd.
As if local opposition from communities surrounding the stadium wasn’t a barrier, I stumbled across this article that discusses opposition from local tribes.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Our local universities here in San Diego have encountered similar objections over the years with local tribes weighing in on construction projects that they feel require their involvement. For example when the UCSD’s Chancellor’s house was remodeled, there was an archeological dig to determine impact on what was formerly local tribal land.
This just one example where local Indian tribes have tried to intervene on campus construction projects. There have been similar situations occur at USD and SDSU. Sounds like Northwestern is in a same boar on the stadium project with local tribes (although to be honest I am not aware of what local tribes exist in the Evanston area. Here is San Diego County we have large numbers of tribes, I believe the highest number of individual tribes for any county in the US. Just the number of tribal members for some of the local tribes is small. I’ve just been unaware of any prior tribal involvement in any NU campus construction. This is the first I’ve heard about their involvement.)
Northwestern’s $800 million football stadium proposal irks local tribal leaders
Evanston, Illinois, continues to be the place where liberal activist ideas run headlong into reality.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Our local universities here in San Diego have encountered similar objections over the years with local tribes weighing in on construction projects that they feel require their involvement. For example when the UCSD’s Chancellor’s house was remodeled, there was an archeological dig to determine impact on what was formerly local tribal land.
This just one example where local Indian tribes have tried to intervene on campus construction projects. There have been similar situations occur at USD and SDSU. Sounds like Northwestern is in a same boar on the stadium project with local tribes (although to be honest I am not aware of what local tribes exist in the Evanston area. Here is San Diego County we have large numbers of tribes, I believe the highest number of individual tribes for any county in the US. Just the number of tribal members for some of the local tribes is small. I’ve just been unaware of any prior tribal involvement in any NU campus construction. This is the first I’ve heard about their involvement.)
Search for setlists: welsh-ryan arena | setlist.fm
Search for setlists for concerts you've been to - there are plenty available!
So, it is pretty new. I will now commence holding my breath as I await my apology!Search for setlists: welsh-ryan arena | setlist.fm
Search for setlists for concerts you've been to - there are plenty available!www.setlist.fm
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(Shit... this was a bad idea)
