Forest Hills Stadium rebelliously pledged that the summer concert season was ongoing as planned.
The venue blasted its neighbors in a fiery social media post hours after the Post reported that the NYPD would not issue a noise amplification permit for the 2025 season.
“As happens every season, vocal nymbi [not in my backyard] The minority at Forest Hills Garden is trying another fun seasonal obstacle for music,” the stadium's official X account was posted on Sunday.
“Forest Hills Stadium is proceeding with its 2025 concert schedule as planned, with the timeline allowed on a standard schedule,” the Arena added.
March 19 letter to stadium owners The Westside Tennis Club said it would suspend permission until the NYPD is granted permission to close the streets.
The club's lawyers initially alleged that the client had never received the letter and dismissed the content as “rumorrows,” adding that the stadium has not yet applied for official permission.
“Neither the stadium's owner nor the operator has received communication from the NYPD regarding the sound permits that have been granted to the stadium at all times on request,” Westside lawyer Akiva Shapiro previously said.
However, on Monday, the lawyer said the social media statement “outlines our plans.”
“The stadium continues to move forward for the 2025 season despite protests from the voice minority,” Shapiro said.
The NYPD confirmed the letter in a statement Monday, with a spokesman saying the division has not competed in the battle between the stadium and nearby Forest Hills Garden Corporation. The spokesperson added that the city would be willing to reissue the permit if the two parties agree.
“We understand that many people enjoy these concerts every summer, but we have to be able to take the right actions to keep people safe,” the NYPD posted. “We believe that FHGC and the Westside Tennis Club can reach the right compromise.”
A venue denial was issued after residents of the sleepy district sued the club. Of the 36 concerts held at the stadium last summer, 11 exceeded the local decibel limit and turned lives upside down with a barrage of sound that crossed the wall.
After failing to reach an agreement with the tennis club on the issue of volume, the NYPD is unable to close the streets as the FHGC denied “agent” access to the venue and its property.
There is no permission to threaten 13 planned shows by groups and artists such as Phish, Tyler Childrens, Leon Bridges, The Alabama Shakes, and The Black Keys.
Forest Hills Stadium was first built in the 1920s to host US Open Tennis Tournaments, and began hosting concerts in the 1960s with legends such as the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.
From the 1980s to the early 2000s, the stadium was devastated, with most of the music heard from the concrete walls, but in 2013 the concert returned after a major renovation of the 13,000-seat venue.
Neighbors in Forest Hills say they don't care about the venue when there were several shows a year, but since the pandemic they've been pissed off by the show and the volume that followed.
“It went from a handful of concerts, venues that suited my neighborhood to full-scale commercial activities,” longtime Forest Hills resident Sandramundel said in a previous interview.
“After every concert, there is a lot of garbage everywhere, I hear my neighbors complaining about the noise, people wandering in the front backyard, and late at night outside the window complaining about the noise.
“My hope is that there is a solution, but the resolution must respect this neighborhood and the residents of this neighborhood. I love the concerts. I want to see them continue.”
