Thousands of Chappell Roan fans to descend on $1B outdoor project bigger than Central Park in venue’s first major test

Olivia Rodrigo is about to put one Southern California park through the ultimate stress test.

A staggering 45,000 people are expected to descend on Irvine’s Great Park at the end of this month for the pop princess’ inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival — more than quadruple the crowd the park’s usual concert venue is built to handle.

After the city’s last massive July 4 event in 2025 caused epic traffic jams, officials aren’t taking any chances.

The sold out Aug. 29 bash is expected to be one of the largest events ever staged at the sprawling Orange County park. Rodrigo has assembled a star-studded all female lineup that includes Stevie Nicks, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill, Karen O, Sarah McLachlan, Katseye, and more.

Before fans can bop along to their favorite songs, they’ll have to actually get there, which might be tricky.

The Great Park’s existing concert venue, Great Park Live, is designed for crowds of just 10,000, so the festival will have to transform the area for the occasion.

Organizers will use the Great Park Live stage, and will build out another main stage next to the park’s iconic orange balloon to accommodate the 45,000 fans coming out for the event.

To stop the girlies from spilling out into the quiet nearby streets, the surrounding area will be turned into a fortress of sorts.

Cops are shutting down residential streets, and locals will need to flash proof of residency to get a city “dashpass” to drive to their homes.

Anyone caught parking without a pass will be slapped with a hefty fine or towed.

“We will have a strong police presence in the area controlling traffic and parking,” Irvine PD Public Information Officer Kyle Oldoerp told the Voice of OC.

The festival’s net proceeds will go to women’s charities, including Baby2Baby, Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and more.

The 1,300-acre Great Park in Irvine is a $1 billion mega-project, undergoing a massive overhaul that city leaders hope will turn the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro into Southern California’s next major entertainment and tourism hub.

While plans call for a 10,000-seat amphitheater, called The Amp, Great Park Live is a temporary live music venue that opened in 2024, while the permanent amphitheater is still being built.

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