City officials on Monday said the 2025 summer concert series at Forest Hills Stadium will go on as planned, but the venue’s neighbors are pushing back.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said Monday that an agreement had been reached between Tiebreaker Productions, the West Side Tennis Club, the NYPD and the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation to allow this year’s shows to move forward.


What You Need To Know

  • City officials on Monday said the 2025 summer concert series at Forest Hills Stadium will go on as planned, but the venue’s neighbors are pushing back

  • The stadium’s concert partner, Tiebreaker Productions, agreed to hire private security to monitor the surrounding area during events

  • Forest Hills Gardens Corporation on Tuesday pushed back, saying it had not authorized the use of its privately owned streets

  • Matthew Mandell, FHGC Law Committee chair, joined Annika Pergament on “The Rush Hour” to talk more about the group’s plan to combat the concert series

Under the new deal, the stadium’s concert partner, Tiebreaker Productions, agreed to hire private security to monitor the surrounding area during events, a condition that satisfied the NYPD enough to issue a conditional sound amplification permit.

However, FHGC on Tuesday pushed back, saying it had not authorized the use of its privately owned streets. In a statement, the group went on to accuse the stadium’s concert partner of misrepresenting its authority to the city’s police department.

“Tiebreaker has apparently represented to the NYPD that it has an agreement or other legal authority to do what NYPD has concluded it can no longer do—seize private streets for a third-party commercial event,” the statement read.

FHGC said any security plan relying on street closures is not valid without its approval. The group highlighted a March 19 letter from NYPD Legal Bureau Deputy Inspector William Gallagher that stated, “the NYPD is not permitted to close the privately-owned streets adjacent to the Stadium.”

Despite the dispute, Richards reiterated Tuesday that FHGC representatives had been involved throughout the discussions and called on the group to work constructively toward a resolution.

“I have long been clear that under no circumstance should an individual or small group have veto power over the socioeconomic vitality of an entire community or the cultural influence of an entire borough,” Richards said in a statement. “Discussions continue with all parties involved, including legal representatives for the FHGC, who have been part of the conversation every step of the way. I applaud Tiebreaker for its genuine efforts to be the best neighbor it can be and I continue to call on the FHGC to drop its obstructionist outlook, finally begin negotiating in good faith and join us in seeking long-term solutions that deliver for Forest Hills.”

Forest Hills Stadium had announced on Instagram Monday that it had received the green light from the city to move forward with its 2025 season.

“As anticipated, we're pleased to announce that the City of New York has given Forest Hills Stadium the green light for our 2025 concert season to proceed as planned,” the post said.

Under the agreement — brokered by Richards — Tiebreaker would hire private security to close nearby streets using blocker cars and metal barricades at least three hours prior to each concert and remain in place for at least one hour afterward. If concertgoers linger, security must remain on site until they leave. Additionally, NYPD and private security must meet in person to review plans prior to each event.

City Hall warned that the NYPD’s approval was preliminary and sound permits could be revoked if the volume at the concert venue exceeded legal limits.

However, FHGC insists it never signed off on the plan.

The group said it is willing to enter mediation with the venue and its concert partner to “return to the status quo prior to 2023 litigation.” That agreement allowed for a limited number of concerts, compliance with the city’s noise code and a formal license for the use of FHGC’s privately owned streets.

The concert season is scheduled to begin May 31 with a performance by the English rock band Bloc Party.