Chicago Preps For Chance Of Summer Return To Concerts, Stadiums

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday said the city is preparing for the possible return of pre-pandemic summer in the city with fans in baseball stadiums and concerts.

The mayor's hopeful message came on the heels of an announcement by Live Nation — owner of Lollapalooza — is prepping for the possible return of live music this summer by putting 170,000 tickets on sale to three festivals in the U.K.

"Summer comes to Chicago, so we want to make sure we are prepared for any eventuality," Lightfoot said at an unrelated news conference. "We want to make sure that if we keep trending in the direction we are trending that we are prepared to open up the city."

But don't make your Lollapalooza plans just yet.

The city is neither "formally planning nor permitting events at this time," according to a City Hall statement.

Chicago's coronavirus metrics — including a 3-percent test positivity rate — are at the lowest levels since the pandemic began.

The chance of the return of more public gatherings will depend on whether COVID-19 metrics continue on a downward trend making events that align with health guidelines possible later this year, officials said.