April 16, 2018 By Tara Law
Concert goers who visit Forest Hills Stadium this year will find several changes at the venue, including the stadium’s first ever food festival, permanent bathrooms, and an “automat” restaurant— and, as soon as next winter, an ice skating rink and holiday village.
The stadium, which was constructed in 1923 and reopened in 2013, announced today that it is adding several improvements to its grounds this summer and will host its first ever food festival in the fall. The changes will coincide with a busy concert season featuring bands such as The National, Arctic Monkeys, and a performance by Van Morrison and Willie Nelson.
In the long term, there are plans to turn the stadium into a year-round venue. Forest Hills Stadium plans to build an ice rink and a winter village, said Patrick Confrey, a spokesperson for the stadium. Although an official opening date has not been announced yet, the stadium is aiming for next winter, he said.
The venue is currently constructing an automat restaurant that will open in summer. “Automats,” which were invented in Germany in 1895, are fast-food restaurants in which customers get food or drinks through vending machines.
The restaurant’s design will incorporate architectural elements from mid-century New York, Confrey said. When it opens, the restaurant will be the only automat in New York City.
This summer, the stadium will also introduce gender-inclusive bathrooms with plumbing on the venue’s main concourse. The bathrooms, which are intended to cut down on wait times, will replace some of the venue’s existing portable bathrooms.
Several new entertainment options are also in the works at the stadium.
The venue will host Santa Monica-founded food festival EEEEEATSCON on Oct. 6. The festival will be put on by The Infatuation, a website which provides restaurant recommendations and reviews, and New York-based event promoter Madison House.
The festival will feature tastings and cooking demonstrations from local restaurants, live music performances and panels led by food industry leaders. Tickets for EEEEEATSCON NY will go on sale on June 19.
3 Comments
One of the best things in Forest Hills. Very happy to read this.
The Horn & Hardut Automat (can’t remember the spelling) was very big & popular when I was growing up. It was in Manhatten.
With 18 concerts planned, plus the additional events, the West Side Tennis Club/concert organizers are flagrantly ignoring promises made to the community to cap the number of events and disruptions to the neighborhood. Thanks a lot.