Emails reveal Christkindlmarket organizers knew about Daley Plaza capacity limits in October
While the organizers of Christkindlmarket said on Nov. 29 they only had 12 hours notice about Daley Plaza capacity limits, emails reveal they knew a month earlier.
"We were informed the day before the market opened, less than 12 hours before we welcomes people, capacity would be limited to 1,050 plus another 503 in the timber hut," said Mark Tomkin, president and CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest on Nov. 28.
But emails obtained by CBS News Chicago through the Freedom of Information Act show German American Events knew as far back as Oct. 28, one month earlier, that there would be a capacity limit.
In an email from that date, German American Events summarized a meeting mentioning the Fire Protection Bureau would be doing measurements to determine the proper capacity limit. Friday the group clarified their remarks, saying they didn't know how small the limit would be until the day before the market opened.
In that same email, festival organizers understood that, as in years past, Washington Street would be closed to cars so it could handle increased foot traffic. But then, on Nov. 20, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications sent an email saying the street would not be closed. Three hours later they reversed course again, and said it would.
On Nov. 21, a very busy night for the market because of the nearby tree lighting in Millennium Park, Christkindlmarket organizers wrote to OEMC to say they had previously discussed a limit of 4,000 to 5,000 people.
OEMC replied, writing, "Let's stop with the false and misleading statements. The capacity range of 4,000-5,000 would be an egregious code violation and compromise both attendee and public safety."
In response to that, the organizers told CBS News Chicago that even during the COVID-19 pandemic the capacity limit imposed at Daley Plaza was 3,494, and added the Chicago Fire Department always conduct an annual site review a part of the permitting process. The size of the market hasn't changed since the pandemic, so they weren't expecting a lower capacity.
Finally, by Dec. 1, the city had raised capacity limits to 2,500.
Also revealed in the emails was a recent request by organizers to keep the market open an hour later from Friday, Dec. 19 through Christmas Eve. Organizers say, yes, that will happen, and they're thankful to the city for their vendors to have that extra hour.
An OEMC spokesperson released the following statement Friday evening:
The City appreciates the vendors and organizers who have made Christkindlmarket into an iconic holiday-season destination for Chicagoans and tourists alike. The enormous success of Christkindlmarket has pushed the limits of the capacity thresholds for Daley Plaza. The City's top priority will remain ensuring that the event is held safely and successfully for all involved.
To address the concerns raised by the organizers, the City is continuing to work with them to increase capacity in a safe and organized manner. The City will continue to work with the organizers to manage the flow of visitors so that the volume meets the needs of the vendors. CFD will offer additional training to event security so that they have adequate preparation to manage an increased flow of visitors, and we will continue to make adjustments as needed.
We will continue to work with event organizers to evaluate possible alternative locations for next year.