Chicago 2014

[countryboy7978]

What's with the hatred for Tinley Park on this board? Since Toyota Park is more than likely out of the question those of us looking to attend a Chicago show will likely be presented with two options. First Midwest Bank Amphitheater (Tinley), or First Merit Bank Pavilion (Northerly Island). I am a bit biased for Tinley because I live near there but between the two venues Tinley is the better option for us traditional tailgaters. Tinley has always allowed tailgating for Jimmy Buffet for as long as I have been attending his shows. The lots usually open at 2pm but in recent years they have been allowing vehicles in earlier. If 6 hours of tailgating isn't enough for some then boohoo. I have never been harassed by the police or the security at that venue for Buffett. Tinley doesn't charge for regular parking (except those who choose the premium or RV spots) no matter what time you arrive. Some people don't like the fact that the security staff chases you out of the lots at show time but in reality it isn't fair for people who didn't buy a ticket to the show to enjoy the free parking and tailgating experience while they listen to the show from outside for free. I'm here to make money not provide a charity show. If it was my venue I would kick them out too. And as for the complaints about not enough portapotties, either wait in line or find the bushes. There are plenty of them surrounding the venue. Tinley offers many hotel options, many within walking distance for a very reasonable price, and in my experience the police are more interested in getting people out of the venue safely than writing DUI's. The venue itself is well versed at handling the sized crowds that Jimmy brings. The lawn is well maintained and concessions vendors are plentiful. Then you have the sound complainers....The sound is not the best from the lawn but what lawn is? If you want better sound then buy a pavilion seat. I'm there for the wonderful atmosphere that a Buffett show provides not to nit pick a venue. Downtown Chicago while beautiful presents a whole list of issues including costlier parking, hotels, and taxi rides. The traffic is awful compared to Tinley and the police were by far the most ignorant I have ever come across in the Soldier Field South Lot. The distance from the parking lots to the actual venue was long too. Oh and then there was the lawn fiasco. Soooo.... can the Tinley haters please tell me what the better option would be, pipe dreams aside.

[SBParrothead]

What's with the hatred for Tinley Park on this board? Since Toyota Park is more than likely out of the question those of us looking to attend a Chicago show will likely be presented with two options. First Midwest Bank Amphitheater (Tinley), or First Merit Bank Pavilion (Northerly Island). I am a bit biased for Tinley because I live near there but between the two venues Tinley is the better option for us traditional tailgaters. Tinley has always allowed tailgating for Jimmy Buffet for as long as I have been attending his shows. The lots usually open at 2pm but in recent years they have been allowing vehicles in earlier. If 6 hours of tailgating isn't enough for some then boohoo. I have never been harassed by the police or the security at that venue for Buffett. Tinley doesn't charge for regular parking (except those who choose the premium or RV spots) no matter what time you arrive. Some people don't like the fact that the security staff chases you out of the lots at show time but in reality it isn't fair for people who didn't buy a ticket to the show to enjoy the free parking and tailgating experience while they listen to the show from outside for free. I'm here to make money not provide a charity show. If it was my venue I would kick them out too. And as for the complaints about not enough portapotties, either wait in line or find the bushes. There are plenty of them surrounding the venue. Tinley offers many hotel options, many within walking distance for a very reasonable price, and in my experience the police are more interested in getting people out of the venue safely than writing DUI's. The venue itself is well versed at handling the sized crowds that Jimmy brings. The lawn is well maintained and concessions vendors are plentiful. Then you have the sound complainers....The sound is not the best from the lawn but what lawn is? If you want better sound then buy a pavilion seat. I'm there for the wonderful atmosphere that a Buffett show provides not to nit pick a venue. Downtown Chicago while beautiful presents a whole list of issues including costlier parking, hotels, and taxi rides. The traffic is awful compared to Tinley and the police were by far the most ignorant I have ever come across in the Soldier Field South Lot. The distance from the parking lots to the actual venue was long too. Oh and then there was the lawn fiasco. Soooo.... can the Tinley haters please tell me what the better option would be, pipe dreams aside.

Pretty good summation. Tinley >>>>>>>>> Northerly Island, and that's basically our choice right now.

[MDown]

What's with the hatred for Tinley Park on this board? Since Toyota Park is more than likely out of the question those of us looking to attend a Chicago show will likely be presented with two options. First Midwest Bank Amphitheater (Tinley), or First Merit Bank Pavilion (Northerly Island). I am a bit biased for Tinley because I live near there but between the two venues Tinley is the better option for us traditional tailgaters. Tinley has always allowed tailgating for Jimmy Buffet for as long as I have been attending his shows. The lots usually open at 2pm but in recent years they have been allowing vehicles in earlier. If 6 hours of tailgating isn't enough for some then boohoo. I have never been harassed by the police or the security at that venue for Buffett. Tinley doesn't charge for regular parking (except those who choose the premium or RV spots) no matter what time you arrive. Some people don't like the fact that the security staff chases you out of the lots at show time but in reality it isn't fair for people who didn't buy a ticket to the show to enjoy the free parking and tailgating experience while they listen to the show from outside for free. I'm here to make money not provide a charity show. If it was my venue I would kick them out too. And as for the complaints about not enough portapotties, either wait in line or find the bushes. There are plenty of them surrounding the venue. Tinley offers many hotel options, many within walking distance for a very reasonable price, and in my experience the police are more interested in getting people out of the venue safely than writing DUI's. The venue itself is well versed at handling the sized crowds that Jimmy brings. The lawn is well maintained and concessions vendors are plentiful. Then you have the sound complainers....The sound is not the best from the lawn but what lawn is? If you want better sound then buy a pavilion seat. I'm there for the wonderful atmosphere that a Buffett show provides not to nit pick a venue. Downtown Chicago while beautiful presents a whole list of issues including costlier parking, hotels, and taxi rides. The traffic is awful compared to Tinley and the police were by far the most ignorant I have ever come across in the Soldier Field South Lot. The distance from the parking lots to the actual venue was long too. Oh and then there was the lawn fiasco. Soooo.... can the Tinley haters please tell me what the better option would be, pipe dreams aside.

All good points. I've attended over a dozen JB shows in Tinley and countless others in the past years. It gets a little crowded but under control. I brought my kids to Tinley last time he played there. I've never been harassed about anything. I'm also closer to Tinley than the other venue choices. It's easy to get too, can handle the crowd, and yes the sound sucks on the lawn. That's why tickets are half the price or so of pavilion.

[sonofasonfckcancer]

The hate is completely justified in far fewer words: Tinley blows.

I will go wherever the show is, but that doesn't mean Tinley doesn't still blow.

[countryboy7978]

Sounds about as well thought out of a response as I would expect from a high school freshman boy. Why attend something that "blows" so bad?

Anyway...let's get this Chicago date announced already so we can start planning!!

[sonofasonfckcancer]

I'm actually only in 8th grade, thanks though!

Even if it is @ Tinley Park, I'll attend because the Jimmy Buffett experience means more to me than most things. I'll attend because I still know how to have a good time even though the venue isn't ideal. I'll attend in spite of the venue, not because of it.

[Snowparrot]

Chicago is the place I've seen the most Buffett concerts, and where I saw my first.
I've been twice to Tinley and once to Toyota, which I didn't like as much.
The sound at Tinley was not great; the seating at Toyota was peculiar (for ground-level seats, you had to climb all the way up and then all the way down, with no field-level entrance.)
I pay a lot more attention to the concert than the tailgating, although that is entertaining to see.
I really liked Northerly Island last year. Mind you, I got good seats, right in front of the VIP area, near the stage. And I wasn't in the mudbowl on the lawn. The view of the city was amazing. Disappointments there: the terrible food and drink choices at the concessions; the scattered tailgating (I was having a bad-walking day); the lack of good food concessions outside the concert area (the takeout place on the regular beach was overwhelmed). Other good things: being from out of town, my friend and I got a downtown hotel and did all the other Chicago sights, and rode the double-decker tour bus to the venue; walked through the park to get a bus back to the hotel; actually stood on a beach and waded in Lake Michigan's chilly waters with a bunch of other silly PHs.
Just my two cents worth

[Planosmith1]

Sounds about as well thought out of a response as I would expect from a high school freshman boy. Why attend something that "blows" so bad?

Anyway...let's get this Chicago date announced already so we can start planning!!

There appear to be two schools of thought on the etymology of the adjective "sucks". The first is that it comes from relative innocuous roots (one possible example: the phrase "s*** eggs", which can be found in the works of Mark Twain). The second I can't say here. However, here it what I believe might be close to countryboy's definition - to be very bad, inadequate, unpleasant, worthless or miserable; to thoroughly s***. LOL

[MDown]

Nothing beats the VIP parking option at Toyota Park.
Huge space, picnic tables, and a short walk to other parking lots.

Money well spent at those shows.

[Amo]

June 28 at Tinley Park

[BlondeStranger72]

June 28 at Tinley Park

Confirmed? or just speculation?

[parrothappy]

June 28 at Tinley Park

Confirmed? or just speculation?

Announced at an Illinois-based Parrothead club this week. I would say the information is good.

[LandShark9]

Would love to see that on the Buffett site. It would be great to have a finalized date this early, AND, have some plans to make!

[Amo]

June 28th, tix on sale March 3rd.

[RumFan]

Confirmed on Margaritaville.com

[LandShark9]

Gotta see the official announcement before the hotel can be booked. When is that coming out???

[Tara1023]

I believe Margaritaville.com is as official as you can get.

I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy he's back in the burbs!!!! Now for the tailgating info...

[phisig23]

Where does everyone stay when they go? We went to Tinley back in 2006 and 2007 and have went to several venues since. We will be coming back to Chicago and would love to stay where the Pre-party is! Let me know please!!

[phisig23]

Nothing beats the VIP parking option at Toyota Park.
Huge space, picnic tables, and a short walk to other parking lots.

Money well spent at those shows.

Where can we purchase these???

[ejr]

Nothing beats the VIP parking option at Toyota Park.
Huge space, picnic tables, and a short walk to other parking lots.

Money well spent at those shows.

Where can we purchase these???

This year is Tinley Park, not Toyota, so this won't matter.