CHICAGO — Northerly Island's FirstMerit Bank Pavilion lawn was looking a bit muddy Thursday, only a day before tens of thousands of Dave Matthews fans were to descend on the outdoor venue for the first of two concerts.
While portions of the lawn were dry, other parts were muddy and waterlogged following huge storms earlier in the week and throughout last month.
A muddy field caused problems at last summer's Jimmy Buffet concert, when concertgoers complained of standing water and mud, with one saying "right dab in the middle of the lawn section there was a few inches of standing water [and] mud due to tire tracks."
But Jon Reens, a spokesman for Live Nation, which manages the venue, assured fans that the lawn will be ready for the Friday and Saturday shows by the Dave Matthews Band. He said officials don't expect problems similar to last year.
Thursday "we had a number of heavy industrial blower, and we hired a helicopter to hover over the field to dry it out," Reens said.
But some fans weren't as sure.
"It looks like it will be messy," said Shana Rich, of Minnesota, who stopped by the lawn with Shawn Jones Thursday. The two will be in the venue's pit for Friday's concert.
Jones thinks the weather the next few days could help improve condition. The National Weather Service predicts highs in the 70s and sunny weather Friday and Saturday.
"If it stays dry, you should be all right," he said.
The venue's lawn is meant to seat up to 22,000 people, and the venue altogether can hold about 30,000.
Ticket to the concert are available online.
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