Clear Channel Will Build Venue On Meigs Field

By Sam Bakken in News on Feb 8, 2005 11:52PM

Officials from the Chicago Park District said today that Clear Channel will win a contract to build a 10,000 seat music venue on Meigs Field. So celebrate people! Just think, we'll get at least one more Nickelback concert per year! And can visits from the edgy teen diva of the moment be far behind? And, uhm, seriously, start celebrating. Those armed men in the Clear Channel uniforms waving the "We Own Everything!" flags aren't fucking around.

The Park District solicited bids for building a music venue on the space in November. Both Clear Channel and local concert promoters Jam Productions, currently in federal court arguing an anti-trust suit they brought against Clear Channel, submitted bids.

The venue will only be temporary, Clear Channel's contract is for three years, because Daley wants to turn the land into a nature preserve. And we all know that Daley gets what he wants with Meigs Field, even if it takes a midnight bulldozing session.

Park District officials said the venue could bring in as much as $800,000 a year, and a lot of that cash will go towards further development of the land. The deal says Clear Channel will book 25 to 30 acts each summer. Park District will officially approve the deal tomorrow