DOWNTOWN — Organizers of Chicago's first-ever outdoor New Year's Eve bash say they'll be back to ring in 2017 despite not turning a profit.
About 90,000 people attended Chi-Town Rising last week, more than expected, a spokeswoman for the event said Tuesday. That figure includes people who bought tickets for the riverfront event, as well as passersby who stopped to see the Downtown spectacle on New Year's Eve.
"Our mission in developing Chi-Town Rising has always been to inspire a celebration in Chicago worthy of Chicago," John Murray, president of festival organizer Arena Partners, said in a statement. "We intend on making Chi-Town Rising a New Year’s Eve tradition."
Mirrored after New York's longtime festivities in Times Square, Chi-Town Rising was billed as a way to transform how Chicagoans celebrate new years here. Featuring a fireworks show and a rising star instead of a dropping ball at midnight, the nationally-televised event also cast Wacker Drive as the backdrop for new year's parties across the Central time zone.
Though attendance beat estimates, Chi-Town Rising's reported turnout here still pales in comparison to Times Square, which draws about 1 million every New Year's Eve. Murray said the number of Chi-Town Rising tickets sold and other financials were "not available" when asked Tuesday. City officials told DNAinfo Chicago they did not estimate Chi-Town Rising attendance.
Despite some miscues, including a botched attempt to sync up the big star with its 2016 countdown, Chi-Town Rising beat out all other local networks' New Year's broadcasts, according to Chicago media observer Robert Feder.
Murray said full financials were "not available," but that the inaugural Chi-Town Rising did not turn a profit, as expected. But since turnout was bigger than expected, he hopes to build on last week's momentum.
"We set out to have Chi-Town Rising put Chicago on the world stage of New Year’s Eve events, showcasing that Chicago is a year-round destination," he said.
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