Forest Hills Stadium has announced a settlement with a local residents' association to end a long-standing legal dispute and cap the number of annual concerts at the famous venue at 28.

The settlement, announced Wednesday afternoon, brings to an end a years-long dispute between the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC), which owns the private streets surrounding the popular venue, and West Side Tennis Club, which owns and operates the stadium. FHGC had also sued Tiebreaker, which operates events at Forest Hills Stadium.

But FHGC's new board – elected at the end of last year – settled a similar lawsuit against the city in April over the alleged seizure of private streets surrounding Forest Hills Stadium. The new board had campaigned on bringing several lawsuits related to events at the stadium to an end.

In the settlement announced Oct. 21, FHGC has agreed to end all pending lawsuits against West Side Tennis Club and Tiebreaker. The settlement, which establishes an operational framework through 2040, allows Forest Hills Stadium to host up to 28 concerts per year during an initial term, potentially rising to 29 concerts per year in later years. All performances remain subject to strict operating standards, including a curfew for amplified sound and real-time audio monitoring.

Tiebreaker will also provide substantial payments to FHGC as part of the agreement, including per-show payments that support the Corporation. Tiebreaker will also make a one-time upfront payment, a portion of which is dedicated to restoration and beautification projects.

The agreement also incorporates increased traffic and neighborhood safeguards, including the establishment of designated attendee routes designed to minimize disruption in the neighborhood. The venue will continue to coordinate with NYPD in addition to deploying its own security personnel and post-show sanitation teams, while it will also work with a community ombudsman to respond to issues in real time.

In a statement, the West Side Tennis Club Board of Governors described the agreement as a "step forward" for the venue and its neighbors. "Reaching this resolution took patience and constructive dialogue from all sides," West Side Tennis Club said in a statement. "We are grateful to our members as well as the Forest Hills community for their patience and engagement throughout this process. We look forward to building on this work in support of our membership, the Stadium’s continued success, and the benefit of the neighborhood we are proud to call home."

Tiebreaker, meanwhile, said the recent agreement helps secure Forest Hills Stadium's future while also directly supporting the local neighborhood. "The Club, the Gardens, and the Stadium are each more than a century old and, together, share a deep interest in stewarding and protecting these precious pieces of New York City history; to maintain what came before us, to enhance our relationship with the current community, and to ensure the future of these important entities," Tiebreaker said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the FHGC Board of Directors said agreement means that the neighborhood has clear, enforceable protections regarding events at the stadium "for the first time in years."

"(There is) a firm limit on the number of shows, a strict curfew, fireworks only with neighborhood approval, and meaningful financial payments," FHGC representatives said. "We are very happy that we were able to reach a settlement. With the divisiveness of the lawsuits now behind us, we look forward to building a constructive working relationship with the Stadium and are proud to usher in this new chapter for our community."

In the now-settled lawsuits, FHGC had argued that concerts at the stadium were creating a nuisance and disrupting the lives of residents. In October 2024, Queens County Supreme Court Judge Joseph J. Esposito dismissed five of seven claims brought against West Side Tennis Club and Tiebreaker. However, he did not dismiss claims of public or private nuisance, but also did not deliver a verdict in either case.

Reach me at shane.obrien@queenspost.com

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