Overview
- City officials raised the Daley Plaza market’s attendance limit to roughly 2,500 people after it was initially set at 1,553 just before opening day.
- Organizers and vendors say sales remain sharply down, with reports of around 40% declines and persistent lines discouraging customers.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson said the market could relocate to a larger site, and the city is evaluating alternative locations for a future season.
- The mayor’s office says safety guides the limits and promised ongoing adjustments, with the Chicago Fire Department training event security to manage larger flows.
- Organizers attribute the new restriction to a changed reading of municipal code; they note pre-pandemic peak crowds of 4,000–5,000 and a 2021 cap of 3,494 that they want restored.