Vail Town Council seeks public input on proposed KAABOO-VAIL event

The Vail Town Council is seeking input from the community on a proposal to host a music, comedy, art and mountain lifestyle event called KAABOO-VAIL in Vail in August of 2017.

For the past several months, representatives from the Vail Valley Foundation have been making presentations to various interested parties and community groups on behalf of the proposed KAABOO-VAIL Music Experience to identify the level of support for such an event as well as impacts.

The ticketed KAABOO-VAIL event is proposed for Aug. 18-20, 2017, and would require approval of a special event permit by the town, among other considerations.

The Town Council will receive an update from Vail Valley Foundation representatives at the Tuesday, May 17 regular evening meeting. The KAABOO-VAIL item is listed as 5.2 in the presentations portion of the meeting agenda which begins at 6 p.m. in the Vail Town Council Chambers, 75 S. Frontage Rd.

During the update, Mike Imhof, President and CEO of the Vail Valley Foundation and Bryan Gordon, Founder and CEO of KAABOO, will provide a progress report on input from the community and town staff. There will also be opportunities for public comment.

The KAABOO-VAIL project envisions use of venues in Ford Park, including the ball fields, parking lot, tennis courts, rugby fields and Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater to host offerings to an upscale audience that would include live music from national acts, premium dining, comedy, art, premium spirits, craft breweries, and VIP experiences.

Estimated attendance for year-one of KAABOO-VAIL would be up to 15,000 people per day with an event goal, by year-5, to have estimated attendance up to 30,000 people per day.

KAABOO is an existing music experience which launched in September 2015 in Del Mar, Calif. KAABOO-DEL MAR 2016 is scheduled for Sept. 16-18. Organizers say the KAABOO-VAIL experience would be scaled and tailored to the size and preferences of the Vail community.

Tuesday’s update is an information-gathering session in preparation for a future decision to be made by the Town Council regarding the town’s support.

Additional details, including the KAABOO-Vail vision and strategic plan are on the town’s website. To comment in advance of Tuesday’s meeting, email the Town Council at towncouncil@vailgov.com.