Mayor Lee today highlighted the success of this year’s Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park, produced by Another Planet Entertainment (APE) since 2008. San Francisco’s Recreation & Parks Department (RPD) reports a revenue increase of more than 30 percent to $2,225,000 million this year from the event that will, in part, go toward recreation and parks programs and facilities, including $89,000 for an endowed gardener and $15,000 for Polo Fields regeneration.

“San Francisco has proven that it can host world-class events, and this year’s Outside Lands Festival shows that we are doing it even better,” said Mayor Lee. “We have worked closely with the producers to make Outside Lands a local job creator, a good neighbor, and a safe and accessible event that benefits our local economy.”

“No other festival in the world has the benefit of the most beautiful in-city park as their backdrop,” said APE CEO Gregg W. Perloff. “It is absolutely magical to be able to hear the finest artists and taste world class food and drink in this unique setting. In six short years, Outside Lands has become a multi-generational institution that families plan their summer vacations to attend Outside Lands. This is a testament to the world-class festival that has been created and we are honored to be able to work with the city on this event.”

“This may have been the best Outside Lands Festival yet,” said RPD General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Two hundred thousand visitors celebrated the nation’s greatest park with the world’s best music, food and wine. We are proud of our partnership with Another Planet. Working together, we ensured the safety of visitors, protected the sensitive landscape and generated over $2.2 million dollars to support park maintenance and recreational programming throughout the City.”

Since its inception, Outside Lands has become part of the fabric of San Francisco. The festival features 100 artists on five stages with the weekend-long event boasting more than 200,000 attendees. Creative music programming features an emphasis on local music culture, where 20 percent of each annual artist lineup hailed from the San Francisco Bay Area. Internationally renowned headliners performed alongside the best emerging acts in the world at Outside Lands each year. Artists that have graced the stages in years past are both impressive and eclectic. This year’s lineup included Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix, Kaskade and Vampire Weekend.

In 2012, the City approved an eight year lease extension with Another Planet Entertainment for the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. The extension increased the percentage paid by Another Planet to 11 percent of ticket sales and increased the fee paid per ticket by 25 percent. Additionally, APE is now required to endow a gardener in Golden Gate Park annually, to contribute $15,000 for materials and supplies in the park and to hold an annual benefit event for the Department.

In a 2011 Economic Impact Report commissioned by Another Planet Entertainment, Professor Patrick Tierney, Chair of San Francisco State University Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, determined that the event, which employs over 4,000 people, contributes more than $60 million annually to San Francisco’s economy with significant spending in the City’s hotel and restaurant industries and creates the equivalent of 683 full time positions in San Francisco.

In addition to the economic activity throughout the City, Another Planet employs hundreds of local residents, including musicians, artists, and event staff and contracts with more than 50 San Francisco restaurants to operate the food concessions at the Festival. Since its inception in 2008, Outside Lands has grown to become an international attraction on par with the nation’s largest and most acclaimed festivals including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza.