Summer concert season has just begun, and for the residents of Forest Hills, it’s off to a noisy start.
The city’s 311 system received 40 noise complaints in the ZIP code containing Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on May 31, the same day as the venue’s first show of the summer season featuring rock band Bloc Party and fellow act Blonde Redhead.
That’s nearly triple the 14 noise complaints in the same ZIP code the previous Saturday. The next show at the venue is scheduled for Saturday, June 14.
The increase in complaints follows a trend of 311 calls that flood in from the area each time the stadium hosts a show — to the ire of the residents in the neighborhood that envelopes the 13,000-seat venue.
And the number of complaints is increasing, according to a previous Gothamist analysis of 311 complaints for the area around the venue since 2019. The analysis found that a 2022 concert featuring the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Japanese Breakfast received the most, with 62 noise complaints.
While some neighbors and surrounding business owners are fans of the talent that comes into the area — and the boom of cash as a result — others aren’t as happy. In addition to the noise complaints, residents perturbed by hordes of strangers coming into the neighborhood, drinking, and leaving a mess have sought other measures to cut the party short, including filing multiple lawsuits and getting the NYPD involved.
Earlier this year, a group of residents blocked the required city permits the venue needed for its summer programming. The stadium later got its way after it agreed to hire privacy security to help with the concertgoers.
A spokesperson for the venue said the stadium has launched a new Forest Hills Stadium Community Care Liaison Program, designed to help residents connect directly with the operations team. The liaison is reachable by phone or email and can help with noise concerns, traffic and safety issues, real-time sound monitoring and general community input.
The stadium teased its summer lineup last month, with more than a dozen combined festivals, comedians and solo acts all scheduled to perform for the remainder of the year.
English DJ and producer Sammy Virji — along with fellow artists Joy (anonymous), Kettama and Atrip — are scheduled to perform this Saturday.
Rock bands Dr. Dog, Crumb and Wild Pink will take the stage on June 21, and Phish will perform a sold-out show at the venue on July 22-23.
The venue will have events booked for much of August, including the Australian rock band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, and an evening with comedian Louis C.K.
Forest Hills Stadium is already teasing that more acts will be announced, and it has already lined up concerts for the fall.
This story has been updated with new information.
