CHICAGO — Chi-Town Rising, the city's first outdoor New Year's Eve party, is now selling three-figure tickets after billing itself as a free event.
Tickets for the party's "Broadcast Boulevard" giving guests prime spots for viewing bands, fireworks, and a chance to appear on national television are available for $150. Tickets for the Corona Beach House Party, a nearby indoor soirée with a DJ and a warm view of the festivities, are being sold for $119.
The prices mark an about-face for the new festival, which as recently as Dec. 3 was telling people it would include a free viewing area, according to the Tribune. John Murray, whose Arena Partners firm is promoting the event, told the newspaper that the changes were made "to address concerns from city and public safety officials." Chi-Town Rising also reversed course on free skate rentals in Millennium Park before the big event.
Related: When Are the Chicago New Year's Eve Fireworks? Chi-Town Rising Details
The evening festivities, headlined by Chicago and American Authors, kick off at 7 p.m. The 2016 countdown will be nationally broadcast on NBC starting at 11 p.m., with fireworks and a big star rising up the side of the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive, serving as the show's climax.
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