By Sarina Trangle
Rap stars Drake and Lil Wayne have nearly quadrupled admission rates charged at the Forest Hills Stadium.
The West Side Tennis Club, which owns the century-old stadium, hired Madison House Presents to organize concerts at the venue last summer in an effort to help finance the historic structure’s preservation.
Madison House Presents announced last week that Aubrey “Drake” Graham, a Canadian hip-hop musician, and Lil Wayne, a New Orleans artist who founded the rap record label Young Money, would perform at the stadium Aug. 19. Tickets are selling for $69 to $400 on the venue’s website.
Admission to the stadium’s other shows went for more modest prices. Entrance to the folk group Zac Brown Band’s concert this Saturday ranges from $79.50 to $104.50, according to the venue’s website.
Tickets for the Aug. 9 performance by indie bands Modest Mouse and Brand New went for $47.50 to $59.50.
And Madison House Presents charged $74 for entrance to the English rock band Mumford and Son’s show last summer, which The West Side Tennis Club described as a trial.
Madison House Presents did not return requests for comment.
The concert booking company previously said it issued refunds for the Mumford and Sons concert because attendees complained the venue was oversold and too crowded.
At a meeting with the surrounding community last month, Madison House Presents said it would sell 3,000 to 4,000 fewer tickets this season.
The company also committed to using an assigned seating system to prevent throngs of fans from crowding the streets near the stadium.
Besides traffic, neighbors have also complained about noise and encounters with intoxicated concert-goers.
Saturday’s show will help break in a new stage. The stadium was also slated to get new seats and have handrails installed and aisles widened before the concerts kick off.
Madison House Presents said it expected to hold six concerts at the stadium this summer. The remaining three performers have not yet been announced.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
