Elk Grove’s 2024 concert series is its most expensive yet
Elk Grove Village’s upcoming summer concert series - free to attendees - is the most expensive in its 14-year history.
The previously-announced 2024 lineup featuring Bret Michaels and The Beach Boys among others will cost the village $745,000 - nearly $200,000 more than last year, under terms of a contract approved by the village board this week.
“Concerts have been going up,” Mayor Craig Johnson said. “Ever since COVID’s been over, the price of shows have gone up pretty dramatically, like everything else.”
“Getting The Beach Boys on the Fourth of July - an iconic band on an iconic day - that’s not easy,” Johnson added. “And Martina (McBride)’s a big act. Bret’s a big act. We’ve got some big acts this year. It’s our biggest by far.”
The village uses a mix of revenues to pay for the concerts, including tobacco licensee fees (which have remained steady, officials say), hotel/motel taxes (which have declined) and video gambling revenues (which had a record year).
Other sponsorship dollars, including a $75,000 contribution from the Elk Grove Park District, help to stage the shows.
All in, with insurance and manpower costs for police and public works, the village expects to spend $850,000 next July, Johnson said.
“I have to completely cover everything with revenue from sponsorships, video gaming, tobacco tax and hotel tax. The revenue I get, I must cover all costs, and I do,” Johnson said. “If you don’t video game, you don’t stay in an Elk Grove hotel, you don’t use tobacco products, you are not paying one penny for these events, and that’s still true to this day.”
The village’s contract is with Entertainment Management Group, run by Elk Grove Village residents Murray and Kitty Weiner. They pay the bands, arrange for their meals and dressing room hospitality, and provide the stage, sound system, lighting and crew to set it all up and take it all down.
The agreement approved by the village board Tuesday is inclusive of artists’ fees - though it doesn’t provide the specific cost breakdown per artist - and commissions for the promoter and band managers.
The lineup will include: The Beach Boys on July 4; Martina McBride on July 9; Neon Trees on July 18; The Four Tops on July 23; and Bret Michaels on July 30. Shows will be held on the municipal campus or at Lions Park.