Made in America Costs-$500,000

[Debbie1125]

Made in America promoters owe city up to $500,000 for services, expenses

Promoters of the Labor Day weekend Made in America concert will have to pay Philadelphia as much as $500,000 to cover overtime and other costs, according to a contract between the city and organizers of the event on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Mayor Nutter has not officially released details of the agreement between the city and concert promoter Live Nation, but the City Controller's Office on Tuesday provided a copy of the contract.

[raider.adam]

If they are paying the costs, then I see no issue.

[kidphilly]

agreed

A win for the city - just in additional hotel taxes alone

Hopefully this can become an every year event, many positive aspects (PR, Tourists, Tax Revenue, Local Businesses)

[BarryG]

Sounds like the $500k owed here is separate from what the city kicked in extra that the administration is still accounting for. The city's costs likely went over $500k but how much?

[JasonMcElroy]

Sounds like the $500k owed here is separate from what the city kicked in extra that the administration is still accounting for. The city's costs likely went over $500k but how much?

That's how it looks to me too.

Owing a bill is not the same as covering the entire cost.

Hopefully we'll find out someday.

Jason

[FMT]

I think that the concert was fun and a good thing for the neighborhood, but Van Coln and all of the large traffic islands around the Art Museum are completely destroyed. I imagine this was worked into the plan somewhere, but how/when will these repairs be addressed?

[Bixbyte]

If they are paying the costs, then I see no issue.

YOU really believe J-Z and his gang are paying the City of Philadelphia half a mill?
AND how much is going to charity?



Promoters of the Labor Day weekend Made in America concert will have to pay Philadelphia as much as $500,000 to cover overtime and other costs, according to a contract between the city and organizers of the event on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Mayor Nutter has not officially released details of the agreement between the city and concert promoter Live Nation, but the City Controller's Office on Tuesday provided a copy of the contract.

The document shows that organizers of the concert, which featured Jay-Z, Pearl Jam, and many other acts, must pay $220,000 for police, $120,000 for the use of Fairmount Park, $90,000 for emergency services, $60,000 for sanitation, and $10,000 for work done by the Department of Licenses and Inspections.

[thoth]

It was a "cost sharing" agreement, so 500k is not the total cost to the city.

Not added into that figure, it seems, is the contractual obligation on livenation's part to restore all the damaged traffic islands and rec areas.

The concert only drew about 75% of the expected crowd. Very curious if livenation made any money off this.

[BarryG]

They said they lost money but that they expected to.

[the mule]

If they are paying the costs, then I see no issue.

How about the cost to commuters who endured the ensuing traffic jams. Did the difficulty in navigating the parkway area affect neighboring businesses? It was the last weekend of Visions of Arcadia at the PMA and I'm sure attendance was much lighter than it would have been otherwise.

[AbortedWalrus]

How about the cost to commuters who endured the ensuing traffic jams. Did the difficulty in navigating the parkway area affect neighboring businesses? It was the last weekend of Visions of Arcadia at the PMA and I'm sure attendance was much lighter than it would have been otherwise.

There basically were no traffic jams that I saw, and navigating the parkway area was no more difficult than when it's closed for any other events. Basically not difficult at all.

[raider.adam]

How about the cost to commuters who endured the ensuing traffic jams. Did the difficulty in navigating the parkway area affect neighboring businesses? It was the last weekend of Visions of Arcadia at the PMA and I'm sure attendance was much lighter than it would have been otherwise.

In a nutshell, I am fine with the Parkway being used for events. Businesses that operate around there aren't new to the concept.

[Naveen]

I think that the concert was fun and a good thing for the neighborhood, but Van Coln and all of the large traffic islands around the Art Museum are completely destroyed. I imagine this was worked into the plan somewhere, but how/when will these repairs be addressed?

Drove by the other day. Lots of grass is now just mud. I hope this addressed soon.

[BarryG]

How about the cost to commuters who endured the ensuing traffic jams. Did the difficulty in navigating the parkway area affect neighboring businesses? It was the last weekend of Visions of Arcadia at the PMA and I'm sure attendance was much lighter than it would have been otherwise.

PMA isn't a business.

[Volanova]

Drove by the other day. Lots of grass is now just mud. I hope this addressed soon.

Herein lies the problem with these events: when held in areas like this that concentrate large numbers of people onto areas with already thin grass, they can be destroyed. Unlike a larger field, they also don't grow back as quickly due to a shallower topsoil layer and isolation.

The city is going to have to spend a LOT of money just putting down new sod.

[seand]

I'm skeptical soil compaction is any more or less of an issue for this one than the 4th of July and any number of fundraiser walk-a-thons and ethnic festivals along the Parkway.

[Bixbyte]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20120919_Details_for_Labor_Day_concert_costs_available__sho rtly_.html


Fest promoters agreed to pay all expenses

BY CATHERINE LUCEY
Philadelphia Daily News

City to get up to $500,000

Fest promoters owe city up to $500,000

MAYOR NUTTER still hasn't released cost figures for the Made in America festival, but a contract for the Labor Day weekend event states that the promoter is responsible for all city expenses.

So, are taxpayers off the hook for the for-profit concert outside the Art Museum, featuring rap mogul Jay-Z, produced by Live Nation and sponsored by Budweiser? City officials originally said that there would be some "cost sharing."

Mayor Nutter said Tuesday that the full details would be available "shortly."

"That's the way the contract was written," Nutter said. "You're going to get all the information."

A city source said that Live Nation has already made an initial payment of $200,000. The contract the city signed with Live Nation estimated that Made in America could cost as much as $500,000 - including police, sanitation and other expenses.

The contract - provided by the City Controller's Office - says that Live Nation is responsible for any repairs needed post-concert. A list of estimated costs for city services breaks down as follows: police, $220,000; Fairmount Park, $120,000; emergency medical services, $90,000; sanitation, $60,000; licenses and inspections, $10,000; and health, $1,000.

The city's special-events policy states that any for-profit events must pay daily property rent. Nutter said that the promoters would pay a fee for the space in front of the Art Museum, on the Ben Franklin Parkway, but he declined to say how much.

[Volanova]

I'm skeptical soil compaction is any more or less of an issue for this one than the 4th of July and any number of fundraiser walk-a-thons and ethnic festivals along the Parkway.

Probably not significantly worse than 4th of July in regards to foot traffic, although weren't there more structures erected that would have caused damage for this event?

[Bixbyte]

Mayor Nutter's official Press Release:

City of Philadelphia | May 15, 2012 at 7:11 am | Categories: Mayor's Press Releases.
JAY Z To Curate, Headline ‘BUDWEISER MADE IN AMERICA’ MUSIC Festival in Philadelphia This Labor Day Weekend
by City of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, May 14, 2012 – Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Budweiser and United Way today announced “Budweiser Made in America,” an exciting, two-day music festival in Philadelphia this Labor Day weekend to benefit United Way and produced by Live Nation.

JAY Z will curate and headline the blockbuster roster of talent, which will include nearly 30 artists that embody the American spirit performing across three stages on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2.

The eclectic roster of talent cultivated by JAY Z will be announced on May 21 and include acts ranging from rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and dance.

Tickets for “Budweiser Made in America” music festival go on sale Wednesday, May 23, through Ticketmaster.com and Livenation.com. A limited number of 2-day tickets will be available for $99 (plus service charges). Budweiser Facebook fans will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, May 22. To become a Budweiser Facebook fan, please visit Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More.

“This Labor Day, we will not only make history but we’re benefiting a great organization. ‘Budweiser Made in America’ will encompass every genre of music, creating and showcasing the only genre that matters, ‘great music.’ Budweiser and Live Nation are going to produce an amazing two days of performances, and it’s great to partner with United Way again to support all of the positive work they do in the community,” said Shawn “JAY Z” Carter.

[Jayfar]

City says all Made In America costs are paid for

No word on whether the United Way received any funds from the concert. Maybe not, considering it supposedly did not break even for the promoter, unless there was a guaranteed minimum contribution to UW.