THE LOOP — The summer fun of this year’s Lollapalooza Festival turned to sweaty frustration on Sunday as concert attendees left Grant Park to find long waits and crowded trains at CTA stations around The Loop. As of Monday afternoon, many of these music fans are reportedly still waiting for CTA Trains to arrive.
“I’ve been waiting for…holy shit, 16 hours?” said Mike Wilson, 24, a server and diehard Zed’s Dead fan, “How does this happen?”
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Despite warning that this year’s Lollapalooza would be one of the most well-attended in years, Sunday saw longer waiting times between trains. The CTA has said the issue was caused by driver shortages, but wouldn’t give an exact justification for why more hadn’t been scheduled for the busy weekend.
“Look, there just weren't enough drivers, ok?” said Hector Lorenz, 47, a CTA employee who reportedly drew the short straw and had to be spokesman for a day. “Maybe it was because we forgot to schedule them, maybe they just didn’t feel like driving, maybe they’re all huge Blink-182 fans and didn’t want to miss the show, ok?”
“All I know is you’ll never get an apology from us, so stop trying and please ‘allow for more time’ or whatever.”
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With crowded platforms and lines extending outside the stations at Howard and Jackson, those left waiting quickly became desperate, the fun vibe of the festival quickly fading as hot, tired fans struggled to get home.
“I’ve heard things are clearing up at Adams-Wabash,” said Cassie Han, 27. “I don’t live off any of those lines but at this point I don’t care. First train I see, I’m getting on it and wherever it goes, that’s where I live now.”
With crowds still waiting at CTA stations, those stuck are having to deal with the fallout of hard-partying weekend blending into what for many is the start of a new work week.
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“I think I had a job I was supposed to be at today,” said Kristine, last name and age unknown, “but I remember so little from the before times. All I know is I was born waiting for this train, and I’ll likely die waiting for this train.”
Some Lollapalooza attendees, still buzzing off party drugs and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, have begun to develop a religious fervor that keeps them in line, sure that one day their train will come.
“I saw it in a dream, children,” said a concert goer who told our Chicago Genius reporter and several gathered “younglings” that their name was now “L.” “Our salvation; an empty train, bound for Howard.”
“Who is Howard?” asked a “Youngling,” who was the same age as L and our reporter, but really really high on mushrooms. “Is he…was he my father?”
“Perhaps once. But I am your father now,” intoned L, before the two started making out and our reporter got uncomfortable and walked away.
