July 20--Concert promoter JAM Productions paid more than $15,000 to replace grass and make minor repairs to a North Side hill that hosted last month's Mumford Sons show, according to documents obtained by the Tribune.
Moore Landscapes in Northbrook received $15,674.50 to restore Cricket Hill after the June 19 concert by Montrose Beach, documents obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request show. The work, which includes sod replacement and seeding, began Thursday and is expected to continue through this week, said Christopher Coe, Moore Landscapes' vice president of construction.
"This wasn't as much damage as some of the (shows) we've done," Coe told the Tribune. Moore has repaired Humboldt Park after Riot Fest and Union Park after the Pitchfork Music Festival in past years, Coe said.
Damage to Grant Park after Lollapalooza last year cost the festival promoter about $266,000, while Riot Fest organizers said they spent about $150,000 in repairs last year, according to media reports. Riot Fest recently announced its move to Douglas Park on the West Side after some complaints from Humboldt Park residents that included the condition of the park after the festival.
It's unclear how many Mumford fans attended the show in the Montrose Beach area, which rarely hosts large-scale music acts. Organizers anticipated a sell-out crowd of 35,000 before the show, but it was postponed two days because rains delayed construction of the stage. Fans were given the option to ask for a refund or use their tickets at the British band's stop in Waverly, Iowa, last month.
A JAM spokesman did not return a request for comment. The Chicago Park District charged the Chicago-based promoter $65,000 for the postponement on top of its $100,000 permit fee and $25,000 security deposit.
Moore Landscapes performed a walk-through of Cricket Hill on June 24, according to Park District documents.
Six areas of park space between Wilson and Montrose avenues were identified for repair. The section closest to the stage, near Montrose Avenue, is in the worst shape and requires stripping sod and placing topsoil, among other fixes, to the tune of $10,425, documents show. Other areas require minor restoration work.
An invoice for the work was issued June 29, the same date on JAM's check. Coe said in a July 8 email to the Park District his company had received JAM's check.
Coe said his company plans to replace the sod at Cricket Hill some time this week but he is waiting for the weather to cool down first. Moore will fence off the area as it performs the sod work, Coe said.
