Title
Financial Recap Centennial Park West Concerts 2019 - 2025
History
The Village has been hosting concerts at Centennial Park West since 2011.
In 2019, the Village hosted the first ticketed concert featuring headliner 4Cast, Jefferson Starship and Loverboy. In addition, a free concert was offered over Labor Day weekend featuring local cover bands. Revenues totaled $57,160 including $44,490 from the sale of 1,767 tickets, $8,200 in sponsorships, $3,688 in beer/wine sales and $782 in merch sales. Expenses totaled $165,201. Expense highlights include $90,252 in entertainment fees, $39,653 in rentals, $4,392 for porta-potties, $4,824 in food and meals, $265 in services and $20,768 in marketing, printing and promotions. The overall net was a negative $108,041.
In 2020, the Village introduced the Centennial Park West Concert Series featuring national artists on three dates as a package cost. Due to the pandemic, artists were unable to perform causing the cancelation of the Series. The Village instead, hosted two in-person/drive-in concerts in the Centennial Park West parking lots. Each date featured three local cover bands. Expenses totaled $61,282. Expense highlights included $21,950 in entertainment fees, $31,894 in rentals, $3,780 for porta-potties, $2,700 in services and $958 in marketing, printing and promotions. Alcohol sales generated $567 in revenue. The overall net was a negative $60,706.
In 2021, the Village hosted its first Concert Series with three ticketed concerts on three dates featuring nine artists. The June concert featuring Scott Stapp with openers 4CAST and Filter was cancelled due to heavy rain. Revenues totaled $98,784 including $86,961 in tickets from the sale of 2,434 tickets, $7,825 in sponsorships and $3,680 in beer/wine sales and $318 in merch sales. Expenses totaled $388,154. Expense highlights included $230,538 in entertainment fees, $96,617 in rentals, $8,317 for porta-potties, $5,622 for food and meals and $41,135 in marketing, printing and promotions. The overall net was a negative $289,370.
In 2022, the Village hosted two ticketed concerts, one in August featuring tribute bands and one Labor Day weekend featuring Dishwalla, the Spin Doctors and Hinder. Revenues totaled $34,177 including $26,308 in tickets from the sale of 1,863 tickets, $5,300 in sponsorships and $2,569 in beer/wine sales. Expenses totaled $326,519. Expense highlights included $179,021 in entertainment fees, $98,219 in rentals, $5,450 for porta-potties, $4,278 for food and meals and $37,114 in marketing, printing and promotions. The overall net was a negative $292,342.
In 2023, the Village broke ground on the Centennial Park West concert venue. Three free concerts were held in the parking lot featuring three tribute bands on two dates and two tribute bands on one date. Revenues totaled $23,839 including $17,661 in sponsorships, and $6,178 from the sale of alcoholic beverages. Expenses totaled $153,836. Expense highlights included $70,463 in entertainment services, $62,615 in rentals, $3,423 for porta potties, $2,267 for food and meals, $12,377 for services and $1,762 in marketing, printing and promotions. The overall net was a negative $129,997.
The Centennial Park Concert venue opened on June 8, 2024, and featured Gary LeVox of Rascal Flats. The July concert featured Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. The series ended with One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel. Revenues totaled $239,168 including $187,555 in tickets from the sale of 7,661 tickets, $42,015 in sponsorships, $1,800 in vendor fees and $7,798 in beer/wine sales. In 2024, there was one $20,000 presenting sponsor. Expenses totaled $587,946. Expense highlights included $389,578 in entertainment services, $151,759 in rentals, $6,696 for porta-potties, $4,883 for food and meals and $19,049 in marketing, printing and promotions. The overall net was a negative $348,779.
In 2025, the Concert Series featured three individually priced concerts. July 12th featured a night of yacht rock/soft rock with artists Firefll, Ambrosia and Pablo Cruise. August 8th included headliner Lynyrd Skynyrd with opener 4Cast and Molly Hatchet August 30th was a night of country artists headlined by national artist Trace Adkins, local opener Evan Fox, Jessie Hanes and Morgan Evans. Revenues totaled $268,376 including $244,776 in ticket revenue from the sale of 6,686 tickets, $17,500 in sponsorships and $3,100 in vendor fees and $3,000 in alcohol cup sales. Expenses totaled $922,595. Expense highlights included $556,341 in entertainment services, $151,992 in equipment rental, $165,262 in services (outsourcing, backline, gate staff, transportation, hotel), $15,107 in food and meals, $9,030 for porta-potties and $22,402 in marketing, printing and promotions. The overall net was a negative $654,219.
It is important to note that the above deficits are only for concerts held since 2019. These deficits total $1.88 million. This does not account for the debt to construct the Centennial Park West concert venue, nor do the above concert deficits account for annual operating expenses. As outlined during the June 16, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting, the final cost to construct the Centennial Park West concert venue was $12.5 million. A 20-year debt service on $12.5 million is approximately $930,000 annually. The current approximate annual operating costs for the Centennial Park West concert venue is $250,000, which is expected to increase in future years.
In summary, in 2025 alone, the Village spent $1.83 million for the Centennial Park West Concert venue. At this rate, the total 20-year cost, not factoring inflation, would be $36.68 million. The Village hosted thirteen events (see attached summary) at Centennial Park West in 2025. The entire 2025 Centennial Park West concert and special event lineup was approved as part of the 2025 budget. The proposed fiscal year 2026 budget significantly reduces concert expenses. Additionally, the 2026 budget includes a centennial Park West Strategic Operating Plan. At a previous Village Board meeting, the Village Board discussed the lack of a business plan as part of the development of Centennial Park West. In order to assist with deciding the future of Centennial Park West, the Village will issue a scope of services for a Strategic Operating Plan RFP. Community engagement will be an important element in the development of the Strategic Operating Plan.
Financial Impact
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Recommended Action/Motion
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