Northerly Island Pavilion Expansion OKed: Phish, Jimmy Buffett Booked As Headliners

Phish, Buffett To Play Expanded Northerly Island Pavilion

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday OKed a proposal to expand Northerly Island's Charter One Pavilion, which will play host to major acts Jimmy Buffett and Phish this summer.

The seasonal music venue -- on the former site of Meigs Field -- was seeking approval to boost its capacity by more than 20,000 people by shifting the pavilion's stage to include a new lawn seating area in addition to 600 new pavilion seats, all facing a backdrop of the city's picturesque skyline.

The Ticketmaster/Live Nation-owned venue's makeover into something resembling a Ravinia in the city will be "self-sufficient," according to DNAinfo Chicago, and should be completed by June 1, in time for Buffett's June 29 gig, Phish's July 19-21 jam. In addition, the Chicago Tribune reports Dispatch will play the venue on June 1, O.A.R. on June 28 and Ben Folds and Barenaked Ladies will share a double bill on July 9.

One Plan Commission member, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, had lingering concerns that a parking and traffic mess will accompany the quadrupling of the venue's previous capacity of 7,500 concertgoers -- but Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein and Park District superintendent Michael Kelly said Soldier Field's parking lots should satisfy any strain for those driving rather than taking public transportation or biking.

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According to the Tribune, the pavilion's expansion is expected to double Park District's ticket sales revenue to $2 million this year.

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