SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Country Star Zach Bryan headlined the third and final massive music event in three weeks at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
The series of concerts has proven to be the business boon city officials hoped for — but some say it’s been a strain for some who live and work in the area.
Big crowds are turning out in their denim, cowboy hats and boots.
“We’re the most excited. Biggest fans. We came all the way from Canada,” said Sophia Hirschfield and Billie Spilfolgel of Toronto.
Once again, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is drew big crowds and long lines.
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They came from all over and lined up early.
“We woke up at 3 in the morning, on the bus at 5, and here at like at 8:30,” said Hirschfield and Spilfolel.
Brandon Flint and Andrew Benning drove 24 hours nonstop from Houston to get here, and they were pumped for country star Zach Bryan to take the stage.
“We’re huge fans of Zach,” Benning said.
Some say a concert in San Francisco is worth going the extra distance.
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“It’s definitely a blast. It’s definitely one of my favorites — San Francisco, the Golden City,” said Brenden Bunn from Red Bluff.
This is the first year San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has seen huge music-filled events three weekends in a row. First, it was Dead and Company, then Outside Lands and on this Friday, it’s Zach Bryan with Kings of Leon opening.
Some are relieved it’s almost over.
“I think three in a row is a bit much. I’m glad to have some music. I’m glad the revenue brings to the neighborhood and the park, but it is a bit much to have three in a row,” said Anne Baily from San Francisco’s Richmond District.
Bailey says the noise has also been a factor.
“I hear it in the Richmond at Funston and Balboa. It’s mostly the sound. I’m grateful that it ends at 10 o’clock,” Bailey.
The traffic, the road closures and the parking have been tricky at times to navigate.
“During Outside Lands it was pretty bad,” said Kai Lumma in the Outer Richmond.
“It took me 45 minutes to find parking every day,” said Vincent Le.
For small businesses, like Balboa Bi-Rite Market, having such big events three weekends in a row has been good and bad.
“A bit of a double-edged sword, it’s good for business. With us being mom and pop, a lot of people supporting us, but we don’t have enough time or delivery space in between to keep the store stocked. By the time we’re getting to this one, we’re a little bit run out,” Le said.
Le worked 13-hour days for each concert so far.
“It’s a lot. It’s very tiring because from 11 to 3, it’s hundreds of people coming in and out constantly,” Le said. “I wish the for concerts to be a little more spread apart, so we have more time to restock.”
Le is loving all the business. But he’s also ready for a break.
“Personally, I could use little bit of vacation. It will be nice,” Le said.
San Francisco business, Andytown Coffee, has been working here at the Golden Gate Park, providing its service for backstage hospitality with the production company putting on the three music events.
But the business said it has also seen an influx of business at its storefronts throughout the city from people who have been staying in different San Francisco neighborhoods, coming to town for the concerts.
“You have people who are staying at some of these nicer hotels. ‘Hey, let’s go to this restaurant, let’s go to this coffee shop, let’s go to this park, and then let’s go spend the evening at the festival.’ And the next day. ‘Let’s go explore somewhere else in the morning,'” said Sean Sullivan, general manager of Andytown Coffee. “So, it’s pretty cool. It’s beyond just festival home, festival home. It’s an all-encompassing city experience.”
These three back-to-back weekends of music here at Golden Gate Park are drawing about 450,000 people. That’s boosting our economy by about $150 million.
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