On Wednesday, August 30, Vernon Downs hosted the legendary Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on its outdoor stage.
The weather was perfect, and the concert began with a call to post by the E Street Band. Springsteen rocked the house for four hours to a crowded infield of over 18,000 under a beautiful starlit sky.
The concert was a boost to the local economy and also benefited several local charities. Vernon Downs will contribute 50 cents to the Food Bank of Central New York, 50 cents to the Utica Food Bank and one dollar to the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center for every ticket sold. Jeff Gural will personally match each of those donations.
Gural also personally donated 2,300 tickets for the concert to the USO. The tickets, which totaled $172,500 in value, were distributed through the USO of Metropolitan New York to active military service members and their families stationed at Fort Drum, as well as those serving in the NY National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard.
“It was a great night for Vernon Downs," Gural stated. "Everybody had a great time and we were able to give back to the community by contributing money to our local Food Banks and Veterans Outreach Center as well as giving back to our local military that protect our country."
(Vernon Downs)
