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Electric Daisy Carnival Will Rave On... In Vegas.
At the Electric Daisy Festival (Photo by Nadia Kovacs/LAist)
Organizers of the popular but controversial Electric Daisy Carnival announced yesterday that they were through with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Los Angeles in general, and will be setting up their annual event in Las Vegas come June.
"The show must go on," said Pasquale Rotella, CEO of Insomniac, the company that puts on the event. Rotella acknowledged that not having a contract in L.A. right now was making the certainty of the event tenuous, however, he gives a tip of the hat to the venue that has long been home to the EDC, now in its 15th year: "We are grateful for all of the events we’ve been able to produce at the Coliseum and Sports Arena over the years, and for the support of the fans, Los Angeles, the Coliseum Commission and everyone who has contributed to those events."
On the L.A. end, folks were a bit less diplomatic. Said Coliseum Commission member Rick Caruso: "I'm really glad they decided to leave the city and I hope they don't come back."
Last year's EDC was blighted by the death of 15-year-old Sasha Rodriguez, an attendee who took Ecstasy, suffered from dehydration, and collapsed on the dance floor. She died at the hospital. In the aftermath of Rodriguez's death, and the increased attention the EDC and similar events received for their security, age-verification, and medical attention protocols, the Coliseum's operating team has been mired in controversy, and have sought to put a stop to holding such events at the venue.
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Insomniac anticipates a better working relationship out in the desert: "By moving this event to Las Vegas, we are welcomed with open arms by a venue that specializes in a wide range of entertainment. "
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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