Proposed music festival at Sonoma Raceway gets mixed reviews from locals

SONOMA, Calif. (KGO) -- A proposed four-day music festival at the Sonoma Raceway is getting mixed reactions in the North Bay ranging from praise to concern.

The place famous for its fast cars is changing its tune. The Sonoma Raceway is looking to be the home to the Bay Area's newest music event, a four-day festival that could rival Outside Lands in San Francisco.

People packed into the Sonoma advisory committee meeting to learn more about the proposal.

Pam Sloane who lives in the Sonoma Valley said she was opposed to the proposal.

"Oh, come on. That's just like protracted torture," she said.

Sloane says the traffic and noise is already terrible on race day weekends. She worries a music festival, which could attract 50,000 fans a day, will be worse.

"We can't have the freedom to come and go," she said.

The concert may have a venue playing dance music until 4 a.m. Some worry about the noise.

"The other events that are on the list are going to be like bringing the Burning Man festival to Sonoma Valley," said one woman at the meeting.

Raceway president Steve Page hopes to stage the concert in 2017, but he first needs approval for a major event besides racing.

"They will be major, national acts, but we're a couple of years down the road," Page said. "We are going through a full environmental impact report to study all the impacts that this thing will have."

Many call it a no-brainer for the economy. One man said the Sonoma Valley needs the tourism and it would create jobs.

Before the music starts, the festival will need the approval of Sonoma County supervisors.