Chicago NYE, overall boring? (Fulton, Grant Park: city hall, home, quality of life) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

ChikidII · 01-01-2012, 09:58 PM

When I see the Sydney Bridge, Big Ben, Hong Kong, etc, on NYE's it amazing how they incorporate their architecture and buildings into the fireworks display.

Why doesn't Chicago do this? It seems like there could be a lot of opportunity. Maybe some thing that shoots up from all the buildings against the Chicago River at the same time(Wacker Dr. could hold a lot of people and the bridges). Can you imagine that building canyon of the Chicago River just being lit up? Or Navy Pier's ferris wheel? Sears/Willis Tower? Trump Tower?

I dunno Chicago's fireworks display for NYE just seems so boring. It just seems that a lot more could be done. I would love to see Chicago displayed on TV like London, Moscow, Sydeny, NYC, etc are.

OhAcid · 01-01-2012, 11:17 PM

Then walk into city hall and make a personal donation if ushering in the new year isn't complete without wasting funds on pretty colored lights.

ChikidII · 01-02-2012, 12:10 AM

Geez it's just an observation and was opening it up for discussion. With your attitude we should just cancel the fireworks altogether right? We could nitpick a lot.

If anything creating a grand event can bring money to the city. You don't think cities like London and NYC make a lot of money off of tourism because of their NYE display? There is a reason people go to NYC for NYE and not Chicago, LA, SF, etc. Think about it.

chicago103 · 01-02-2012, 12:20 AM

You are right that Chicago's New Year's Eve displays and especially TV coverage is lackluster. In fact the local TV coverage was just discussed in another thread. It is funny because my friend's always talk about how the local bands on TV suck and the Chicago coverage is not that great and now I read many other people saying basically the same things.

I mean don't get me wrong the fireworks display over the lake is decent enough for a typical large city but it is not what you would expect from a world class city. In part I think it is because New York City basically dominates the American New Year's Eve, it also helps that Times Square is full of neon lights, it makes it easy for the cameras to see the people. It is hard for cameras to get as good of images of people standing in Grant Park in the dark. I suppose Wacker Drive along the main branch of the river could hold many people if they closed off the entire street for the festivities.

ChikidII · 01-02-2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago103

You are right that Chicago's New Year's Eve displays and especially TV coverage is lackluster. In fact the local TV coverage was just discussed in another thread. It is funny because my friend's always talk about how the local bands on TV suck and the Chicago coverage is not that great and now I read many other people saying basically the same things.

I mean don't get me wrong the fireworks display over the lake is decent enough for a typical large city but it is not what you would expect from a world class city. In part I think it is because New York City basically dominates the American New Year's Eve, it also helps that Times Square is full of neon lights, it makes it easy for the cameras to see the people. It is hard for cameras to get as good of images of people standing in Grant Park in the dark. I suppose Wacker Drive along the main branch of the river could hold many people if they closed off the entire street for the festivities.

Also take into account the we are one of the few major international cities in our time zone. Meaning we could dominate the central time zone's broadcast probably how NYC does for the national. The point I am just trying to make is that there is a lot of opportunity, but it is very lackluster. IMO Chicago in terms of its events is rather boring when it comes to NYE.
Other international world class cities do a much much much better job.

The spanish channels usually have four different countdowns. For the east they do NYC and Miami. For the central time zone they do Mexico City? Why can't they do Chicago? Chicago has more than enough hispanics that should make it the main place for the countdown in the city. It's probably because it's boring. Then for mountain time zone they do Alcapulco and for the west they do L.A.

linicx · 01-02-2012, 03:16 AM

Do you have any idea many thousands of dollars it costs for any City to put on a pyrotecnic display like you suggest, or the type of technicians that must be hired, or the myriad of precautions that must be taken? There is much to be considered.

The simple solution is to find out what it costs the city for the 4th of July display and triple the matcing funds. It might take a couple of years but you mist start now banging on coroporate doors becaise now is when businesses make their committments for 2012 donations. The balance of the year funds come from the general public.and small groups. If you are lucky and you start now you might get WGN to donate some TV time to it. But right now it is just a pie in the sky dream.

Once you get the backing you can go to the city. I hope you have a lot of free time because you will be working for this cause many long hours every day until you reach your goal. You also need accounting for every penny you collect and every penny in an escrow account. If you fall on your face, every penny you collect must be returned to the donor.

Good Luck. I hope you are successful.

sunnyandcloudydays · 01-02-2012, 05:32 AM

Unfortunately New Years and Booze go hand in hand.

Maybe Chicago is diverting a huge problem by not spotlighting the New Years Eve Celebrations.

Keep in mind all the people who attend a public event need to get home and getting home at 1am on new years could spell disaster.

To me I could care less about a new years celebration but if I was in my 20s and out drinking and having a time my view would probably be different.

Outside of NYC times square I really cant recall where there is a huge event for new years with maybe LA the exception.

NYC is literally first in line for the nation to ring in the new year due to it being on the Eastern Seaboard by the time the clock strikes midnight in LA its already old news to most of the country.

linicx · 01-02-2012, 05:48 AM

And its already really old news in London and 18-hours old in New Zealand.

When I had a big dish I was able to watch NYE from coast to coast. The Fulton Street Experience in LV was probably the most unique, but small by comparison to NYC. As far as fireworks go I would just as soon watch PBS and the Boston Pops at the Charles River. .

Irishtom29 · 01-02-2012, 06:49 AM

I don't give a damn. Such displays have nothing to do with the day to day quality of life in this city and with the financial state this town is in I wouldn't spend a nickel on such trivial frivolities.

sunnyandcloudydays · 01-02-2012, 07:57 AM

[quote=linicx;22359965]And its already really old news in London and 18-hours old in New Zealand.

When I had a big dish I was able to watch NYE from coast to coast. The Fulton Street Experience in LV was probably the most unique, but small by comparison to NYC. As far as fireworks go I would just as soon watch PBS and the Boston Pops at the Charles River. .[/QUOTE
Yeah New Zealand steals the show for Earth.....

To me ringing in the new year is a great time espicially when your young and those hangovers just take a simple splash of water and a cup of joe to cure.

The older I got the more water I needed and the more coffee i needed

Ah fun getting older....
Now days I just have a simple glass of the bubbly or a few shots and then call it a night and ring in the new year.
Funny thing how age changes your prespective on things