SF hopes upcoming Dead & Company concert, Outside Lands festival provide economic boost for city
Heads up, there are road closures around Golden Gate Park
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco is hoping an influx of concerts coming soon will help build a better Bay Area.
Acts like "Dead & Company" and the annual "Outside Lands Festival" should provide the city a big economic boost.
On Tuesday, city leaders kicked off a series of events to celebrate the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary.
The three weekends of back-to-back live music started with Lady Gaga's first of three shows at Chase Center Tuesday night.
"For the next three weeks, San Francisco is going to be the music capital of the world," said Mayor Daniel Lurie.
"New bands, local artists, visiting artists like you'll see it, Outside Lands, but also respecting the legacy that the Grateful Dead provides here in San Francisco as well," said Joaquín Torres, San Francisco assessor-recorder.
Dead and Company's 2023 Oracle Park performance brought in $31 million to the city. And this time, leaders say hotel demand is up 53%.
"The economic impact that it has on the city, is it exorbitant? And it doesn't just help the hotels, but it helps retail and small business and restaurants," said Anna Marie Presutti, CEO of SF Travel.
MORE: Deadheads across generations bring the love for Dead & Company's final shows in SF
Presutti says it's important for the city to sustain this momentum, building more with these summer concerts.
"The more things that we can add that people are asking for and wanting, whether it's around the sports space or food or concerts, it's all good," she said.
Officials hope all of these events are not only bringing in returning tourists to the city, but also new ones.
MORE: Are free concerts helping San Francisco's comeback?
Hundreds of thousands of "Deadheads" are expected to head to Golden Gate Park for three nights of performance from August 1 - August 3.
Outside Lands kicks off the following weekend from August 8 to August 10.
Road Closures in Golden Gate Park
Starting Wednesday, July 23, there are some road closures in Golden Gate Park.
Middle Drive between Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and Transverse Dr. will be closed to vehicles.
MLK Drive is turning turn into a one-way for eastbound traffic.
The Polo Field, where the concerts will be held, is also off limits starting Wednesday.
