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Chicago, IL - The Cubs got the go-ahead Wednesday to hold a nighttime concert at Wrigley Field on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, but they’ll bend over backwards to minimize conflict.

Mike Lufrano, Cubs senior vice-president of community affairs, said the time of the Saturday, Sept. 18 concert — by either the Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney or Phish — will be pushed back until after sundown, when Yom Kippur ends.

Because the Sept. 17 concert coincides with Kol Nidre, the start of Yom Kippur, the Cubs have reached out to all three synagogues in the area: Anshe Emet, 3751 N. Broadway; Anshe Sholom, 540 W. Melrose and Temple Sholom, 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive.

“It’s really parking that they’re most concerned about. You won’t hear it because they’re far enough away. But, it’s fans coming to hear the concert at the same time people are going to worship,” said Lufrano, who is Jewish and plans to miss his first Wrigley concert to celebrate the holiday.

“We’re talking to them about parking lots that we could shuttle people from. There will be additional parking available with shuttle service provided.”

Lufrano noted that fewer people drive to concerts than to Cubs games, leaving team lots at two-thirds capacity.

“We should have space available in our lots if people want to park. But, it may or may not be the most convenient,” Lufrano said.

“We may end up working with the Park District about Waveland Park or other places. We’ll find a place where people who are going to synagogue don’t have to worry about looking for parking. They can park in a lot and take a bus.”

Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet could not be reached for comment. Prior to Wednesday’s vote by the City Council’s License Committee, Chairman Eugene Schulter (47th) reported that Siegel had sent a letter endorsing the September concerts.

Last summer, the Cubs held an unprecedented three Wrigley concerts in one summer week — two by Elton John and Billy Joel, one by Rascal Flatts.

When the Southport Neighbors Association argued that it was too much, in part because of a conflict with the group’s neighborhood festival, local Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) called it a one-year experiment. He promised that, if it didn’t go well, “There’ll be no more concerts.”

On Wednesday, Tunney argued that the three-concert experiment was so successful, thanks to “neighborhood protections,” it’s worth repeating.

But, since Elton John and Billy Joel have cancelled their summer tour, Tunney asked the License Committee to approve only the two September dates. The Cubs may or may not seek approval for an additional concert in July.

“We’d like to. We’re working on that. But, we didn’t have anything today,” Lufrano said. “It highlights how difficult it is to find the right act to play in Wrigley Field.”

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