Riot Fest, a music festival that has been held in Chicago's Douglass Park for a decade, is moving to the suburbs, specifically Bridgeview's SeatGeek Stadium. The sudden relocation has sparked mixed reactions among Douglass Park residents and city officials, with some welcoming the peace while others lament the loss of vibrancy. The decision to move Riot Fest has raised concerns about neighborhood disinvestment and governance issues in Chicago.
"It would be unfortunate if the economic well-being of businesses and local organizations were dependent on the ephemeral presence of a private entity that swoops into a vulnerable community," writes Rebecca Wolfram on Riot Fest leaving Douglass Park. https://t.co/PAn9quIdWJ
Riot Fest announced it's leaving its long-time home in Chicago's Douglass Park and is setting up RiotLand in Bridgeview's SeatGeek Stadium for the 2024 event, set for Sept. 20-22. https://t.co/hOnWMaHtpn
Critics celebrate Riot Fest departure from Douglass Park, while others see lost opportunity https://t.co/8JKojldOeE
Editorial: Riot Fest’s exit to the suburbs is a blow to the West Side. It was preventable. https://t.co/MCYwsyjj9T
Riot Fest moving to the suburbs was a "surprise" to the city, the Park District boss said. https://t.co/lKFdPqzd6n https://t.co/wfTVFoDCjo
From the Editorial Board: The knotty narratives tied to Riot Fest’s departure have little to do with live music; instead, they traverse familiar Chicago issues such as neighborhood disinvestment and dysfunctional city government. https://t.co/BZUJPzitKx
Riot Fest's sudden move to suburbs after decade on the West Side was a "surprise" to city, Park District CEO Rosa Escareño said. “We have been working really closely with...organizers as recently as a couple of weeks ago." Reporting w/ @yassineleen https://t.co/hFzn0IyVyF
Douglass Park neighbors are split on the Riot Fest move, with some welcoming the quiet and calm and others already missing the buzz. https://t.co/E5ShKzJ4ao