Taste of Chicago to charge for concert seats
Crowds at the showcase summer festival Taste of Chicago will have to pay this year if they want concert seats.
Performances at the 3,000-seat Petrillo Music Shell had been free, but the city wants to charge $25 a ticket this year.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel explains that's to help chip away at $2.7 million in losses at the festival over the last three years.
Lawn seating for 30,000 other music fans will still be free.
Emanuel said Wednesday that taxpayers shouldn't be “on the hook” for the festival's losses.
Taste of Chicago was also shortened this year and will be held from July 11 to 15 in Grant Park.
Last year's event drew 2.3 million visitors — down 11 percent from the year before.
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