Where else can you enjoy a music festival like this? Seaside Park, P.T. Barnum’s waterfront gift to the city, is a jewel of a venue hosting the Gathering of the Vibes that has attracted tens of thousands throughout the years and showcases the state’s largest city as an emerging cultural arts and music destination. Will it be back?
Vibes organizer Ken Hays says he wants the four-day hippie fest to return. City officials want it to return as well. Crunching dollars and cents will be the final determination.
The Vibes is an example of give people what they want and they will show, even in a difficult economy. Radio and television stations throughout the state conducted live remotes and reports from The Vibes introducing a positive slice of the city so many did not know existed.
Will it be back? Encore, please.
Showing the positives of Bpt as a venue for these events is good. But I really wish they could do more to include local businesses so they benefit too.
Many of those traveling to and from the event pass through downtown and all of the restaurants there, but from what I understand, those restaurants really don’t get a boost from this like they do for events at the Arena.
Perhaps the Vibes organizers can carve out a piece of land for local businesses to set up. Maybe set up a lottery system or something so the local places can rotate in and out every year.
The Vibes was a nightmare for the residents of Seaside Village, it started Friday. Vibe goers parking on the side streets inside of Seaside Village to avoid paying for parking and that causes a problem because there is limited parking and one side of the street parking. Then Sunday afternoon, as a resident there I notice out of my window police officers and security for the Vibe all up and down my street, so I go out into my backyard and I see a man running in through the backyard of my neighbor on my right, then the man jumped the fence into my yard. I yelled at him and he ran across my yard and jumped my fence to my neighbor on my left. I told the police on the street what I saw. The police found the man hiding three yards away. The police said the man robbed someone at the Vibes. Between the traffic, the parking, the noise, Vibe goers walking through all day long and the lack of police to monitor the action that was affecting the residents of Seaside Village I don’t want the Vibes event here unless there is better monitoring and protection for those of us who reside here.
*** A Vibes hippie was robbed by a Bpt thug near Marina Village and caught. That sounds like good quick P/D response to me; just the amount of security in the South End alone during the Vibes week should make people in general feel safe, no? *** Ghost town comes alive for a week in New England ***
They’d better keep it here. The city should have more events at Seaside. The police presence needs to be dramatically increased in and outside of the park. The park is amazing and wasted most of the time.
To the editor,
It seems like an apparent opportunity every year that the “Gathering of the Vibes” sets up in Bridgeport and we play host for a few days to visitors and residents alike. The city has everything to gain over the next 10 years as Steelpoint finally begins construction. The visibility from the highway sends a message to thousands of visitors that Bridgeport is coming back to life.
The University of Bridgeport as well as Housatonic and other local institutions could use this draw as a positive in their marketing brochures. The University should host short tours including the magnificent view from the top floor of the library of one of Bridgeport’s greatest assets, Seaside Park.
I would urge the Mayor and local businesses to figure out a way to promote the city during the Vibes concert. You never know who is there and in the audience. One thing is true. Bridgeport has a captive audience of diverse individuals and the City does little to promote itself.
Overall, The Vibes concerts over the past few years have enjoyed positive press and a nice turnout. What are local businesses doing to attempt to extend the stay of these participants? What is the University of Bridgeport doing to promote their unbelievable location on the water? My musical appreciation has become so diversified over the years and must admit these days Symphonies and Opera. Seems like yesterday that Rock, soul and disco were my forte. But I remember the excitement of concerts and coupled with camping make Bridgeport a jewel.
I would imagine that the City of Bridgeport will be wise and look to the future and realize that four days of positive public relations can go a long way in changing the perceptions of our city. I wonder how many families at the Park are aware that they could end their experience with a day at Beardsley park, the zoo or maybe even Shakespeare. Oh what a great memory these visitors could have if we just all put our heads together and create something that would be truly memorable. How about incorporating a Taste of Bridgeport–local restaurants during these 4 days?
When it comes to Bridgeport, I remain eternally optimistic.
Sincerely, Steven L. Auerbach
The city should show Ken Hays the egress as PT would say.
$40,000 and left over junk. You have got to be kidding me!
When I was on the council I was persistently requesting crime figures, arrests, emergency visits to the cities hospitals and emergent care centers and I got nothing.
Our pompous Mayor at one point suggested he provide in addition to the data I requested the economic benefits to the concert. I welcomed the data.
Again NOTHING!!!
If Hays wants a new contract, fine. Show us your tax returns. Show us your gross revenue. Have the city produce independent data as to industry standards that will say how much a host location should receive.
I told Hays to his face the city should receive a base rent and then a percentage of the gross over a verifiable break-even point. He outright refused to even consider such a formula.
And the city attorney’s office had better make sure any new contract expressly prohibits any kickbacks, givebacks or freebies to any and all city officials, both elected or appointed, who are not on paid time at the event. And then the city can remind those individuals drinking on paid time is strictly prohibited.
I have not spoken to anyone who thinks the Vibes is not a good thing. It gives us something to look forward to every year. The Bridgeport community benefits. It makes many of us proud to be Bridgeporters. A lot of outside money is brought into the local economy. They could do better though by having more local vendors.