Common Ground has taken root in mid-Michigan's summer culture.
The downtown Lansing music festival ended its fourth year Sunday with record weeklong attendance estimated at 87,000 and a promise of substantial profit for the first time.
"Our goal was to throw a big successful party, and we did that," said festival co-founder Peter Sullivan, a fatigued but satisfied look on his face. "We want this to be a staple in the city and region for a long time to come, and we think that's happening."
The seven-day festival at Riverfront Park featured three sellouts, including an estimated 12,500 who came to see classic rocker Joe Cocker close out the event Sunday night. Overall attendance was about
25 percent higher than the 70,000 festival organizers had projected and eclipsed last year's attendance mark by nearly 26,000.
Financial figures won't be available for another three weeks, but Sullivan said this year's event will easily surpass last year's $966 profit.
After adding a seventh day and spending more money on musical talent this year, the festival left fans brimming with excitement - even on its last night, highlighted by Cocker.
"We're pretty tired, but it's been great," said Holt's Laurie Ruiz, who has attended the festival every year with her fiance, Mario Montalvo. "I'm glad they do things like this around here because I sometimes don't think they do enough to keep the community together, to keep everyone going out."
Ruiz, 46, said the festival provided a good escape from her two jobs - an administrative assistant at Michigan State University and a sales clerk at J.C. Penney. She said she enjoys the event because she can bring her 4-year-old grandson, Alejandro Ruiz, and dance with him without worrying about profanity or fights.
Lansing City Council President Carol Wood said she believes the festival is helping the city's revitalization effort.
"I'm absolutely thrilled that it's breaking records," she said. "I think when you look at what it brings in - with revenue from people visiting to people planning vacations around it - it's just really wonderful."
Sullivan said that despite the large crowds, the festival encountered few problems.
Long lines left patrons frustrated on the concert's first two nights. In response, festival workers began taking tickets and labeling concertgoers with admittance wristbands two hours earlier to ease congestion at the gates.
East Lansing's Tom Brown, 71, said he and his wife had to wait in line for a half-hour on Tuesday but had no problems the rest of the week.
But Brown said people standing in front of him during shows - blocking his view - was sometimes frustrating.
"When people stand up, you can't see a whole lot," he said. "Maybe they should have a standing-only section. But it's a concert - you kind of expect it, like when you drive a car you expect to see other people on the street.
"Overall, the show's been good. We'll probably be back next year."
Sullivan said next year's Common Ground will feature a similar mix of performers, depending on availability. The festival will last at least seven days, he said.
Common Ground featured a seven-day format for the first time this year. Other additions were a VIP section and a corporate skybox, which boosted revenue.
The VIP section - which sold out all 80 slots at $250 per person for the entire week - likely will expand next year, Sullivan said.
Another priority will be boosting the festival's volunteer ranks to help the event run more smoothly.
"As the crowds get bigger, it requires more people,'' said Kevin Meyer, Common Ground co-founder. "We'll sit down in our recaps afterward and figure out how we can improve the festival. It's improved every year.''
Contact Dan Kittle at 377-1194 or dakittle@lansing.gannett.com.