Rosemont raising ticket fees on shows at arena, theater

Expect to pay more to attend a concert, show or sporting event in Rosemont.

The village board Monday agreed to hike the fee tacked onto the price of each ticket sold for events at the Allstate Arena and Rosemont Theatre from $2 to $3.

The higher fee will apply to tickets purchased online and at the box office as soon as Feb. 1.

The ordinance allowing the hike gives Mayor Brad Stephens and Pat Nagle, executive director of the village-owned entertainment venues, authorization to eventually raise the so-called facility services fee to $4.

Officials didn’t have an estimate of how much the increase could mean for the Northwest suburban entertainment destination’s coffers.

Stephens attributed the hike to the rising cost of doing business, from paying crews who set up the dozens of shows at the arena and theater, to the increased price of utilities such as gas and electric that keep the buildings running.

Rosemont could also share ticket surcharge revenue with concert promoters and event managers in order to lure shows to town. Officials have defended it as a standard practice in the industry since controversy erupted in 2014, when the village paid Garth Brooks’ promoter more than $1 million to kick off an 11-show concert series at the arena.

Stephens on Monday said there hasn’t been as large of a rebate given since, but acknowledged almost every show staged at the stadium and theater receives “a couple bucks” per ticket sold.

The $2-per-ticket surcharge has remained unchanged since the village enacted it in 2009.

Officials in late 2023 raised the local amusement tax — which is also applied to the price of each ticket for sports, concerts and other events — from 4% to 6% to help cover increased personnel costs.