A joint committee of the City Council will meet virtually Wednesday night at 6:45 to weigh a proposal for a multi-day music festival at Seaside Park next September organized by Howard Saffan, developer of the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater, concert promoter Live Nation and founders of the decade-long New York City music festival Governor’s Ball, Jordan Wolowitz and Tom Russell.
The Park Commission has approved Seaside for the event. The licensee will be responsible for all public safety and clean up costs associated with the event. No overnight camping as was the case with the Gathering of the Vibes that had occupied the park last in 2015. Patrons for this festival will come into Seaside Park and leave on the same night.
The city is guaranteed $100,000 but the take is projected to be more than double that based on receiving five percent of gross ticket sales
Festival organizers anticipate attracting roughly 35,000 concert-goers per day for high profile rock and R&B artists.
This meeting will be conducted by Zoom/Teleconference. The public may listen by calling the following conference line and then entering the conference code:
Dial-in Number#: (929) 436-2866
Meeting ID#: 892 679 085
AGENDA
Proposed Resolution Authorizing an Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Development
Agreement for the Reads Artspace Affordable Housing Development. (Note: Item can be
found on the City Clerk’s Website: City Council Agendas/Minutes; City Council; 2020-
2021; Full/Minutes/Size; 2021-07-06.pdf)
Proposed Resolution Authorizing a License to Bridgeport Music Festivals, LLC to
conduct a Music Festival in a Portion of Seaside Park for a Term of Years. (Note: Item
can be found on the City Clerk’s Website: City Council Agendas/Minutes; City Council;
2020-2021; Full/Minutes/Size; 2021-10-04.pdf)
This seems like a done deal, only waiting for Anastasi’s “opinion” on why this doesn’t have to go out to bid as the ordinance clearly states. After Mark makes up.. errr,gives his opinion,the rubber stamp council will fall in line.
This is not a City sponsored concert – its a third party asking to use the Park – so I don’t understand why a bid would be required? A bid would be needed if the City was hiring a concert promoter on its behalf for the festival.
There are a lot of events at City Parks that aren’t put out to bid because its the organization’s event – not a City event.
For example, the City doesn’t hire the fireworks company used by the Barnum Festival – the Festival asks to use Seaside for the display – no bids as to who can do fireworks at Seaside
Hopefully the City Council will read the comments on this topic on the same topic on Only In Bridgeport.