Those who attended the 2015 NFL draft and outdoor fan festival in downtown Chicago nearly four weeks ago aren’t the only ones who got to take advantage of the action for free.
The NFL did too.
The Chicago Park District waived a $937,500 rental fee to use Grant Park and nearby parkland, according to documents released to the Chicago Tribune under a public records request. The district also waived a security deposit.
Historically, the park district provides relief to nonprofit and charitable organizations hosting events on its property. For example, the district’s special event permit application states that nonprofits may receive up to half off rental fees — which can easily reach six-figures for one site — if all of the event’s net proceeds go to the nonprofit.