A proposal to host an annual concert series at Golden Gate Park’s Polo Fields beginning in 2024 appears to be making headway after concert promoters and the Recreation and Parks Department reached an agreement with a city manager.
Rec and Park officials said in a statement Friday that concert promoter Another Planet Entertainment has agreed to allow more community input into its plan to host up to three concerts at the Polo Fields over the weekend following the annual Outside Lands Festival in August.
Executive Connie Chan, who represents the Richmond Borough, which includes much of Golden Gate Park, threatened to delay the approval process for the concerts, saying Another Planet Entertainment moved too quickly and didn’t get enough input from their constituents. Her reaction angered some, who saw the concerts as a potential economic and entertainment boon for a city that badly needed both.
On Friday, Chan said in a statement that Rec and Park and Another Planet Entertainment have complied with their calls for a fuller dialogue.
“With this initial agreement, Rec and Park have made a commitment to continue outreach to our community to ensure their concerns are heard while bringing benefits to Richmond and the city at large,” Chan said. “I appreciate Another Planet Entertainment’s willingness to come to the table and recognize the communities I represent. Our discussions have led to community input being a priority in this process to ensure the prevailing wage for all workers and develop concrete initiatives to revitalize the inner city.”
The concerts would be separate and smaller than the Outside Lands concerts, the department added, and they would use some of the infrastructure at the Outside Lands festival to “minimize the impact on the park.” Concert producers will also sponsor free Muni rides to and from the polo fields.
The agreement also provides that Another Planet Entertainment will offer three free concerts downtown at Civic Center Plaza, Union Square and Embarcadero annually for the same three years, spurred by members of the board of directors proposing concerts in the eastern part of the city. In addition, the proposal increased community benefit funding for programs in Sunset and Richmond counties by $10,000 per borough.
Phil Ginsburg, general manager of Rec and Park, called the agreement a “win-win proposition” that will allow the department to preserve its green space while allowing residents the opportunity to be in the front row of “world-class entertainment” that Another Planet Entertainment provides.
According to Rec and Park, Another Planet Entertainment has been working with the City of San Francisco on Outside Lands for 15 years. The planned concerts are also expected to create “hundreds” of jobs, raising $1.4 million for a two-day event and $2.1 million for a three-day event.
The Supervisory Board must vote on the proposal in September. On August 9, the Richmond District Planning Association will host a community meeting.
Reach out to Laya Neelakandan: Laya.Neelakandan@sfchronicle.com
