Riot Fest 2018 - September 14-16 - Douglas Park, Chicago Tour • Page 96

Nah, I hear you. I always cringe whenever people talk about "doing it for the fans." Especially when there's a clear business motive...

I'm not saying that Riot Fest is doing this "just for the fans," or that ticket sales probably aren't on the lackluster side this year. It definitely feels like a PR move to get people talking about the festival again (because there's been a lot less chatter about it).

I just don't think it's necessarily an indicator of any sort of major issues behind the scenes as far as pulling this year's festival together. But I'm basing this on literally nothing beyond what public knowledge is and my own thoughts... So...

Maybe I'm not cynical enough...

 

Ticketfly would assume all responsibility for suits by those affected.

The settlement is a smokescreen.

 

Early bird started above 120 if I remember right. And they outright lied to those people saying those would be the cheapest weekend passes this year. That burns trust.

 

I would have a hard time believing they posted in November 2017 that’s prices were the lowest knowing full well that they would release $99 tickets in July 2018...

 

They didn’t know they’d do this regardless of whatever narrative you want to believe.

 

Not saying I buy the Ticketfly settlement statement. Just saying calling a circumstantial price decrease an “outright lie” is a stretch.

 

That’s not the lie. The lie is telling people that early bird would be the cheapest.

 

Right. My post was worded poorly, but that’s what I referring to. I would say it’s a stretch to call that a lie. They didn’t intentionally lie in November 2017. Things change. Just relax.

 

We'll agree to disagree, but something is not a lie if it is true within the context of the information the person has to give. They didn't expect to give out $100 tickets. When they did make that decision, they did what they could to make it right by the people who were "lied" to.

And also, if someone wasn't planning to come back next year anyway, then it doesn't really hurt Riot Fest (in the short term) if they pissed them off. I can't imagine anyone who planned to return next year (i.e. the people who you would be worried about burning trust with) is too upset with this, as they're ultimately getting a pretty sweet deal over these two years.

Anyway though, I hope none of this sounds hostile to you. I don't even really care about this since it really has no effect on me. I just think it's all interesting and I need a distraction from work lol

 

Do any of you think Riot will ever switch locations again? I know they were basically kicked out of the Humboldt Park spot but I think the current location is definitely a big turn off for some. Lollapalooza is in one of the most prime locations in the city, and probably has Grant Park locked in as their home until Lollapalooza ever ends. There’s enough public transportation around to get to Lollapalooza pretty easily. Pitchfork and North Coast are right off of one of the L stops, so they are also easy to get to. Riot is in a more “questionable” (in some people’s eyes) area, there is less public transportation that goes there/longer to get there/etc.

I’m wondering if a change in location, perhaps somewhere closer to downtown or in a more accessible area would boost attendance at all? Not sure where they could move to though.

 

I could see most people favoring another location. Riot Fest probably gets the space at Douglas Park much cheaper than other spots, though.

 

It's pretty obvious when you look at the press they got out of this that it was a PR move. Mike did an interview with Billboard, there's a bunch of other outlets reporting about the festival with statements from them, etc.

And I'm sure this was done because ticket sales have been weaker than past years. But I can see the logic. "We have all this extra $$$. What do we do? Reduce ticket prices. We can afford to 'eat' the cost and it'll help our sales overall."

Bottom-line is? People are getting cheaper tickets. If not this year, then next year... I'm pretty happy about it because I got to invite a friend of mine from Chicago who probably wasn't going to go!

I'll worry about the future of the festival when news reports start coming out about them not paying bands, etc. Everything else is just pure speculation.

 

On one hand, I've loved Douglas Park.

On the other hand, I've never gone to a Riot Fest where it's rained, so...

 

I like the park itself, but it was hard enough last year when I had a permanent residence to get there and back last year. When I've travelled it's hard to get any hotel thats not overpriced (which, to be fair, is a problem a festival weekend no matter the location to the city), and also quick. I had friends who stayed near ohare because it was affordable and not booked up but it took an hour of travel via train to get to douglas park. It's also not quite easy to think of another good option without knowing local laws and restrictions and so on.

i said it before in this thread and i am obviously far from any kind of expert or have anything above basic knowledge on these things but i think part of it is just year being an everything going wrong year. Some things out of their control and some things where they messed up/made bad choices.

 

Is Mew a possibility?
They are on the 15th anniversary tour of Frengers and they have only 3 shows booked in the US in october

 

Yea no I’m not trying to say that this isn’t motivated by low tickets, and it’s absolutely a PR move. I just don’t think there’s anything wrong with that or the way they’ve handled it, and I believe they genuinely care about their fans.

 

And yea I think moving it to a different location would help ticket sales probably, but would also cost more money. Idk where they’d have it either. Union Park is too small, Grant Park is too expensive. I don’t think there are actually very many parks in he city that can accommodate a fest like this that are on main transportation routes.

 

There aren’t many parks that can handle a festival of this size in Chicago at all.

They could do Grant Park but they would have to move much earlier in the summer. Like you said, Union Park is out. Humboldt is the only other realistic option (size, not politics) for a park because Jackson Park would never host RF.

The only other options they have are parking lots. United Center and Comiskey can or would be available for a weekend. That sucks, though, and makes it into a much less enjoyable weekend.

And it’s not like Douglas Park has a lack of transit. It’s more that once you’re there you have to leave to go anywhere else because the west side of Chicago is desolate for any number of reasons including institutional racism.

 

I'd be okay with Riot Fest moving out to the burbs. Bring it out to Rosemont so I can see Suicidal Tendencies and eat my feelings at Fogo De Chao.

 

lol good luck convincing anyone to go.

I really thought that the former owner of the Congress and Portage Theaters buying a golf course out in Woodstock was going to be the place for Riot Fest in the future as they'd allow camping and have a huge amount of space. Seems they aren't doing too much with events. Here's the link if anyone is interested: EVENTS | PLUM TREE

Also, the former owner is a massive dick.

 

i realize that it wouldn't happen, but i live in des plaines now so fuck it.

in all seriousness, if riot fest became a destination, camping type festival, that'd probably limit me from ever going. i hate those type of environments with a burning passion.

we can agree on one thing though - fuck eddie carranza.

 

Is it even Riot Fest when it doesn't rain and there aren't killer bees chasing you around?

 

I’m not so sure they could do Grant Park. There are people out there who dear Lollapalooza being held there, so adding another festival would piss them off even more. Also, I don’t think Riot has the funds to move to Grant Park. This article (Grant Park Rental Worth $3.2 Million, But NFL To Pay $103,000) says it costs $3.2 million to rent out. While that would be more convenient for me and there would be more to do around the area, I’m not sure t is feasible.

Even if Jackson Park was available, moving there would definitely lose attendance, purely because the festival is on the south side and some people have preconceived notions about the south side (which, having lived there for many years, I will admit can be sketchy at night).

So, as I originally mentioned, I think the festival moving would be a great idea, but the choices are slim.

 

Last year and I think the year before this didn't happen and it was truly so surprising and great and if it doesn't happen again I will cry of happiness