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I have talked to one of the people that ran the concessions at Toyota Park. There take from the concert....GREAT!!!!! One of the problems were that the Phans partied too much in the lot and didn't buy enough beer inside. Jimmy's people said that they didn't see one bottle in the crowd. That made them very happy.

At Toyota Park they also handed out a map to phans. It made it easier to get around and to find their seats. Next Year they will not open the lot as eairly. Other than that, Jimmy WILL play back in 2009..

And he said that at the end of Saturday's concert.

Just a hunch, but I'm guessing they'd sell more beer in the venue if people didn't have to decide between a beer and making their house payment.

And yes, Jimmy DID say they'd be back there in '09.

ejr wrote:And he said that at the end of Saturday's concert.

yes, that was a very clear statement...good with me.

HULA GIRL^ wrote:

ejr wrote:And he said that at the end of Saturday's concert.

yes, that was a very clear statement...good with me.

I will plan to be there next year. Toyota Park did an excellent job, and I have nothing but positive things to say about my experiences with both shows.

I knew the lot opening that early was going to be an issue somehow . . . I'm not sure it had so much to do with beer sales as it may have been with the overserved . . . .

Thank god nobody mentioned a 1000#'s of sand sitting in their lot . . .

It was a good time but I'll have to see if I'm free next year . . . I may be washing my hair.

The poor sales may have been partly due to the $8 beers..........

a round for my wife and I, and our 2 friends, tip for the gal came to $35.

THAT will limit concession sales.

moeron wrote:I have talked to one of the people that ran the concessions at Toyota Park. There take from the concert....GREAT!!!!! One of the problems were that the Phans partied too much in the lot and didn't buy enough beer inside. Jimmy's people said that they didn't see one bottle in the crowd. That made them very happy.

At Toyota Park they also handed out a map to phans. It made it easier to get around and to find their seats. Next Year they will not open the lot as eairly. Other than that, Jimmy WILL play back in 2009..

Thanks for the update. Have you heard any news about a parking garage and new movie theater that is to be built on Toyota Park land? I heard it is going to be built in the parking lot north of the park.

Bern wrote:The poor sales may have been partly due to the $8 beers..........

a round for my wife and I, and our 2 friends, tip for the gal came to $35.

THAT will limit concession sales.

yeah, god forbid that people don't just rush right out and drop 40-50 bucks per person on beer. My god, the economy will collapse and people around the world will be thrown out of work...

It's not like the markup on that isn't sufficient to make a profit, and a sufficient rate of return on investment that any regular bar would kill for..

I spend too much on t-shirts, can't afford the beer too. By the way, nice to see you again Ringling.

Candyman wrote:

moeron wrote:I have talked to one of the people that ran the concessions at Toyota Park. There take from the concert....GREAT!!!!! One of the problems were that the Phans partied too much in the lot and didn't buy enough beer inside. Jimmy's people said that they didn't see one bottle in the crowd. That made them very happy.

At Toyota Park they also handed out a map to phans. It made it easier to get around and to find their seats. Next Year they will not open the lot as eairly. Other than that, Jimmy WILL play back in 2009..

Thanks for the update. Have you heard any news about a parking garage and new movie theater that is to be built on Toyota Park land? I heard it is going to be built in the parking lot north of the park.

From about a month ago...

A much-anticipated hotel and waterpark project in Bridgeview has been put on hold, at least temporarily, due to the downturn in the national economy, according to village officials.

...the village board earlier this year gave its approval to a plan to build a $70 million hotel and entertainment complex adjacent to Toyota Park in the 7000 block of Harlem Avenue.

...It was to include two mid-range hotels with a total of 300 rooms, a 60,000 square foot indoor water park, and retail and restaurant space.

...developers have run into trouble getting financing for the project and it is now at a standstill.

entire article

Oh well, the economy cannot dip forever... (can it?)

chippewa wrote:

Candyman wrote:

moeron wrote:I have talked to one of the people that ran the concessions at Toyota Park. There take from the concert....GREAT!!!!! One of the problems were that the Phans partied too much in the lot and didn't buy enough beer inside. Jimmy's people said that they didn't see one bottle in the crowd. That made them very happy.

At Toyota Park they also handed out a map to phans. It made it easier to get around and to find their seats. Next Year they will not open the lot as eairly. Other than that, Jimmy WILL play back in 2009..

Thanks for the update. Have you heard any news about a parking garage and new movie theater that is to be built on Toyota Park land? I heard it is going to be built in the parking lot north of the park.

From about a month ago...

A much-anticipated hotel and waterpark project in Bridgeview has been put on hold, at least temporarily, due to the downturn in the national economy, according to village officials.

...the village board earlier this year gave its approval to a plan to build a $70 million hotel and entertainment complex adjacent to Toyota Park in the 7000 block of Harlem Avenue.

...It was to include two mid-range hotels with a total of 300 rooms, a 60,000 square foot indoor water park, and retail and restaurant space.

...developers have run into trouble getting financing for the project and it is now at a standstill.

entire article

Thanks for the link. I think they are going to be waiting longer than the end of the year for the economy to pick up.

That is great news! That means (barring anything unforeseen) there will be an Alpine 2009! (no worries about a Wrigley show)

Only 9 months till Alpine!

gumbo gal wrote:That is great news! That means (barring anything unforeseen) there will be an Alpine 2009! (no worries about a Wrigley show)

Yeah, after the Cubs performance on Saturday night. No Wrigley to celebrate the World Series.

I love going to Alpine to see Jimmy. First place my wife ever saw him live...

Toyota Park is terrible parking lot was disorganized beers were to expensive. No atmosphere a concert in a soccer stadium bad idea. Buffett is just getting to commercial. No lawn people whats up with that. Been to over 50 buffett concerts toyota park was the worst venue ever!!!!!!!

ddog wrote:Toyota Park is terrible parking lot was disorganized beers were to expensive. No atmosphere a concert in a soccer stadium bad idea. Buffett is just getting to commercial. No lawn people whats up with that. Been to over 50 buffett concerts toyota park was the worst venue ever!!!!!!!

ddog-first of all, welcome to Buffettnews!

The folks at the venue knew the parking lot would be a challenge for these concerts and thought there were problems, most of us thought they did a great job. And we were very impressed that they had sent staff to Texas to learn about concert management so they could be better prepared-we thought it showed from the large number of port-0-pottys to the garbage pickup to the kindness of the staff throughout both days. This isn't the only stadium he has played and I thought it generally worked well. I have been to indoor shows and others venues as well and generally thought this place did a really fine job, and I expect it will be even better next year.

And where else would you have him play in Chicago-Tinley Park isn't long for the world, and there aren't other options. This place really wants Jimmy and their efforts showed.

The parking lot experience at Toyota Park was probably the best I've experienced in all my years of going to concerts.
Nobody worried about the price of beers because everyone brought their own, and if someone didn't, they were offered beer by everyone who did. There were port-a-potties damn near every 20 feet, the parking lot attendants, security personnel, and stadium management were all very courteous, helpful, and bent over backwards to make sure we all had a great time.
I definately did, and can't wait for the 2009 concerts there.

Wino you know wrote:The parking lot experience at Toyota Park was probably the best I've experienced in all my years of going to concerts.
Nobody worried about the price of beers because everyone brought their own, and if someone didn't, they were offered beer by everyone who did. There were port-a-potties damn near every 20 feet, the parking lot attendants, security personnel, and stadium management were all very courteous, helpful, and bent over backwards to make sure we all had a great time.
I definately did, and can't wait for the 2009 concerts there.

It doesn't hurt that we were hanging around with the right people