Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Trump's Canceled Chicago Rally Will Cost Campaign $49K: Contract

By Stephanie Lulay | March 14, 2016 6:46am
 Donald Trump's rally was canceled for safety reasons as protesters filled the UIC Pavilion.
Trump Rally and Protest
View Full Caption

CHICAGO — Although GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump's appearance at a rally in Chicago was canceled at the last minute, his campaign will still foot the bill for staging the event.

According to a contract obtained by DNAinfo Chicago, Trump's campaign is on the hook for an estimated $49,000 in costs associated with renting the UIC Pavilion Friday. 

RELATED: Trump on Canceled Chicago Rally: 'I Didn't Want to See People Get Hurt'

The Trump campaign agreed to pay the University of Illinois at Chicago $22,343 to rent the venue, plus cover an estimated $27,000 in reimbursable costs, according to the contract. The $27,000 was expected to cover costs associated with having an increased UIC Police presence at the event and ambulance services. 

 Donald  Trump won't take the stage until 6 p.m ., but that didn't stop protesters from turning up hours early — and getting removed from line early, too.
Anti-Trump Protesters Rally Outside UIC Pavilion
View Full Caption

Final reimbursable costs were expected to be determined immediately after the event, according to an agreement signed by Corey Lewandowski, Trump's campaign manager. 

And while Donald Trump told CNN that "we had an estimated 25,000 people" in and around the arena Friday night, records show that the Trump campaign expected about 8,000 supporters at the UIC Pavilion for the rally. 

The arena can hold up to 10,000, according to the University, and was about 80 percent full when the rally was called off 30 minutes after it was supposed to start, amid confrontations between protesters and supporters. 

As part of the agreement, the University agreed to not make "any unnecessarily disruptive announcements" during the event and agreed to not cease Trump's political speech regardless of content. 

Asked if he felt his tone on the campaign trail led to the problems Friday, Trump said no.

"I don't take responsibility. No one has been hurt at our rallies. I've had 25,000, 35,000 people ... and we've never had anyone hurt, or certainly seriously hurt," he said.

Related:

Trump Chicago Rally Canceled for Safety, 'Total Chaos' Breaks Out

A Brief History of Chicago Throwing Shade At Donald Trump

This Trump Toilet Built By Chicago Teens For Sale — Will Donald Buy It?

Trump Raises Mere $1,600 in Downtown Chicago, Far Behind GOP Field

Throw Trump Tower Into The River? 7,000 Chicagoans to Join Symbolic Dumping

Trump Tower Won't Stump for Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign

Trump Sign a New Addition to Guide's Downtown 'Disaster' Tour

 

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: