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New Des Plaines summer fest operator says event may lose money for at least another year

The new operator of Des Plaines' downtown summer festival says he's going to try as hard as he can to break even on an event that's lost money for years, though he admits it's likely it will operate in the red for at least another year.

The city council inked a deal this week with Chicago-based Ravenswood Event Services Inc. to take over operation and management of annual summer event, which has been run by a different firm, Special Events Management, the last four years.

The city is paying Ravenswood $10,000 upfront, but could be on the hook for as much as another $10,000 for any net losses incurred from the festival, which in recent years has been called the Summer Fling.

Ralph Concepcion, Ravenswood's owner, said he doesn't have that arrangement with any other town, but asked Des Plaines officials to absorb some risk since it's “probable” losses could exceed $10,000 this year.

He estimated the two-day festival, tentatively scheduled for the evening of June 12 and all day on June 13, would cost between $80,000 and $100,000 to run. Expenses would be recouped from food and beverage sales, vendor sales and sponsorships.

“When we investigated the history of this event, we determined that (it) hadn't made money in years. I don't know any businessman that would accept a proposition to do an event knowing it was going to lose money,” Concepcion said at a city council meeting this week. “My negotiation was we need to be protected at some level on the downside, while we resurrect this event and build it up and make it successful over the long term.”

If there's a net profit, Ravenswood will get all profits up to $5,000. The company would get 70 percent of any profits above $5,000, with the city receiving the remaining 30 percent.

Fifth Ward Alderman Jim Brookman, who along with 2nd Ward Alderman Jack Robinson voted against Ravenswood's contract, said he liked the proposed event, but not the financial model detailed in the contract.

“It seems to me that if you have to generate from $80,000 to $100,000 in a day-and-a-half event, that's probably not going to happen,” Brookman said. “I think we're on the hook for $20,000 going in.”

The festival has been called Summer Fling the past four years, but for the 10 years prior was the Taste of Des Plaines, run by volunteers from the city's special events commission.

Linda Wojcik, the commission's co-chair, said there are fewer volunteers today, necessitating the hiring of an outside firm.

Concepcion said the event wouldn't feature carnival food or games, like past festivals, and he's planning to “engage local restaurants from Des Plaines as much as possible.”

“Our philosophy as an event company is to try to make all of the events we work on as local as possible because we think those are the most successful events and the most sustainable,” he said.

Des Plaines planning changes for Summer Fling festival

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