Lollapalooza Marks 10 Years in Chicago

ABC Channel 7 reports Lollapalooza kicks off its 10th year in Chicago on Friday- and preparations for the huge music festival are well underway in Grant Park. Streets are closed in the area and security is tight at Grant Park. The three-day festival includes 130 bands on eight stages.

Lollapalooza toured cities in its early years, but then settled on Chicago in 2005. "It's become a global image-builder for Chicago," said Don Welsh, president and chief executive officer of Choose Chicago, the city's tourism and convention organization. "Lollapalooza has become synonymous with Chicago." About 300,000 people are expected at the festival this year. "It's $100 million it brings into Chicago's economy lots of jobs. And it markets Grant Park around the entire world," Bob O'Neill, Grant Park Conservancy, said. This year for the first time the city and Lollapalooza promoters worked with tourism partners in international markets to make tickets available for music fans around the world. Proceeds from Lollapalooza pay for park improvements, as well as educational and cultural programs.