Bridgeview Welcomes Parrotheads With Open Arms

The Chicago Sun-Times has an article on Buffett migrating his annual Chicago shows from Tinley Park to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. Here are some excerpts:

After 17 seasons of basing his Chicago area shows at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park (and before that Poplar Creek), Buffett announced that on July 24 and 26 he’ll make his debut at Toyota Park, 71st and Harlem in Bridgeview. The southwest suburb is welcoming Buffett’s tailgating flock of Parrot Heads with open arms.

In Tinley Park, that wasn’t always the case. Hardcore tailgaters from Chicago migrate instead to Buffett’s shows at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wis., where they’re as accepted as beer and cheese.

“What size shark hat should I wear?” wonders Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek. “We encourage tailgaters. We have 30 acres of parking on site. The lots are well lit. We’ll have plenty of security. We know the other event to a Buffett show is the pre-concert.”

General Manager Mark Thiessen says Toyota will make “every effort” to open early. He’s now reviewing village codes: “Our goal is to make this his permanent home for as long as he continues to tour.”

“I’m a big Buffett fan — now,” said Mayor Landek, 51. “I’m not an avid music buff, but I understand this is great business. We’re prepared. We had almost 30,000 people last summer for the Eric Clapton [Crossroads guitar festival] event and it went off without a hitch.”

Read the entire article here.

The presale for the Toyota Park shows has ended. Ticket sales will resume tomorrow for the general public, Monday, March 3rd at 10 am CST on Ticketmaster. Click here for the TicketMaster purchase link.