A couple weeks back we reported on rumors that AEG Live (the production company behind both Coachella and Firefly) was in talks with the city of New York regarding a potential new music festival to be held in June 2016 in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park. We also noted that June 2016 will be “the same month that Governors Ball takes over Randall’s Island just northwest of Flushing.” It seems that detail didn’t escape the attention of the Governors Ball organizers, who just launched a petition to block the proposed Corona Park festival.

The petition was posted today on change.org, accompanied by a letter addressed to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and signed, “Team Gov Ball.” The letter includes lots of contextual stuff about Governors Ball, but here’s the important part, re: the conflict:

The timing of this proposed event is an aggressive, greedy attempt by AEG to push a small independent company of born and bred New Yorkers out of business and out of the market.

We are writing you today to ask for your support and tell the Mayor’s Office and the City of New York to reject this proposed event that would take place two weeks after Gov Ball. We are asking that this proposed event take place at another time of year because this would allow both events to succeed.

That seems like a pretty reasonable request — it’s hard to imagine the city sustaining two gigantic festivals within the span of two weeks, especially when both festivals would be competing for booking. It’s also hard to imagine Governors Ball surviving, as AEG Live could theoretically book acts at both Coachella and the Corona Park festival as part of a package deal. It seems likely the Corona Park festival would edge out Governors Ball within a matter of two or three years, and IMO Team Gov Ball are smart to take action. That said, there’s really no other time of year during which a second festival would make sense in NYC, so the request that “this proposed event take place at another time of year because this would allow both events to succeed” seems slightly disingenuous. We’ll see! Sign the petition here and read the full letter below.

To the Fans, Supporters, and Fellow Music Lovers,

We’re writing you today to ask for your support to help keep Gov Ball alive for many years to come. We started the festival back in 2011 with one goal in mind: to bring a major music festival that New Yorkers could call their own to our hometown. One that was specifically curated for the eclectic music lovers of New York City. One that featured the very best of NYC cuisine. And one that operated with the attendee experience as the #1 priority.

As a small, independent company in an industry dominated by major corporations and rapid consolidation, we’ve come a long way and given hundreds of thousands of you first class entertainment. Sadly, today our future is in jeopardy and we need your help.

As reported in The Daily News and multiple industry news outlets, AEG is lobbying the Mayor’s Office and other city agencies for approval of a major festival in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens two weeks after Governors Ball. The timing of this proposed event is an aggressive, greedy attempt by AEG to push a small independent company of born and bred New Yorkers out of business and out of the market.

We are writing you today to ask for your support and tell the Mayor’s Office and the City of New York to reject this proposed event that would take place two weeks after Gov Ball. We are asking that this proposed event take place at another time of year because this would allow both events to succeed. Please help Gov Ball survive and continue to serve you – the fans, friends, and family – for many years to come!

Sign the petition now.

With Sincerity, and Gratitude,
Team Gov Ball