North Coast Music Festival rocks SeatGeek Stadium

By Carol McGowan

An estimated 75,000 people flocked to SeatGeek Stadium last weekend for the annual three-day North Coast Music Festival, which was held in Bridgeview for the first time.

The festival, which was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, featured a wide range of music and artists from electronic to hip hop to rock, on a main stage instead the stadium and a number of stages on practice fields surrounding the stadium.

Organizers said SeatGeek will be the new home for the Labor Day weekend music festival, which started in 2010 at Chicago’s Union Park on the city’s near West Side. It moved in 2019 to Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island.

“We are excited to announce a new home at the recently renovated SeatGeek Stadium, in Bridgeview,” organizers said on their website. “We’re thrilled for the various atmospheres the new stadium campus offers.”

Local fest-goer Chris Ortman, who purchased a three-day pass, said his favorite part of the weekend was the energy of the crowd.

“There are good vibes everywhere when you go from stage to stage to see different artists,” he said. “Another thing I have been enjoying are the art and immersive installations they have.”

Justice resident Jenn O’Brien also liked the relaxed atmosphere. “It’s not at all crazy. Just friends and fans getting together having a great time.”

Besides the stages, there were food and drink vendors as well as clothing and souvenir sellers.

There was a kind of art show, as well. There was a giant immersive exhibit inside the stadium, but the majority of artwork was on display in various locations on the festival grounds.

Fans who were overheated from dancing or the weather, were able to cool off by visiting the nearby sports dome, which was air-conditioned and well-ventilated.

The crowds were large but relatively well-behaved.

“The crowd was orderly and respectful,” said Bridgeview Police Chief Ricardo Mancha. “There was not one arrest made among 75,000 paid customers over the weekend.”

In other news, the Chicago Fire soccer team, which for years called SeatGeek home, announced they will return to Bridgeview for a match against New York City FC on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m.

Individual tickets and group tickets are on sale now for the general public, but Bridgeview residents are invited to the stadium to watch the game for free. For free tickets, Bridgeview residents will need to email [email protected] or call 708-594-2525.

Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek also announced that the mortgage on the stadium, which was built in 2006, is about halfway paid off.

“Our stadium is alive and well,” Landek said. “We survived the great recession of 2008, COVID, and the headwinds of criticism. Now we have arrived at a great place in time. The stadium is nearly 50% paid off. That is right, our mortgage started in 2006 and runs for 30 years.

“This year, marks the halfway point. Just like your own home, Bridgeview is starting to pay large amounts on the mortgage principal. In the past three years nearly $15 million of debt has been paid off.”