Irvine’s Great Park is preparing to host the sold-out Daisy Chain Fields festival on August 29, an event featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Nicks, and Chappell Roan. Expected to draw 45,000 attendees, the festival is slated to be one of the largest ever held at the park, which typically accommodates about 10,000 guests for similar events. City council members approved the event agreement with producer C3 Presents on August 11, outlining revenue projections for the city.
Under the agreement, the City of Irvine is slated to receive $5 per ticket sold, totaling an estimated $225,000, along with $30 per parking ticket. Additional city revenue includes a $45,000 rental rate, $7,500 for load-in and load-out, and a $150,000 food and beverage buyout. This anticipated revenue comes as the city faces a potential $47 million structural deficit by the end of the decade. The festival's net proceeds will benefit nonprofit organizations advocating for women and girls, such as Baby2Baby, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood.
To manage the significant crowd, event organizers will utilize the existing Great Park Live stage and construct a main stage specifically for the festival near the Great Park balloon. Parking for the event will cost $95 per vehicle on-site, with a $50-per-person shuttle service available from UCI or the Honda Center. Income from on-site parking fees will be split, covering portions for the city and operational costs. As of August 17, specific breakdowns of transport cost portions were not available, according to Irvine Public Information Officer Linda Fontes.
A robust traffic and parking management plan has been developed by C3 Presents in collaboration with the Irvine Police Department. Multiple residential streets within the Great Park neighborhoods will be closed. Residents can obtain a dashpass from the city by providing proof of address. Irvine PD Public Information Officer Kyle Oldoerp stated that individuals parking on closed streets without a dashpass could be cited or towed. Oldoerp emphasized enhanced security measures following challenges during last year's July 4th event, where over 40,000 people showed up, exceeding expectations and leading to severe traffic jams. Oldoerp noted that a “robust plan” is now in place with “collaborative partnerships.”
City leaders discussed the festival during a Great Park board meeting on July 28. Councilmember Melinda Liu expressed excitement for the opportunity to support female empowerment. Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco noted the festival's mission aligns with the city’s 2021 resolution supporting the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Councilmember William Go indicated the community's excitement for such events. The city's recent history includes the July 2023 termination of negotiations with Live Nation for a permanent amphitheater, and the temporary FivePoint Amphitheater closed in October 2023. The Great Park Live venue opened in June 2024.