Las Vegas loves Electric Daisy Carnival, even if only for the massive economic influx during the one-week dance music takeover. However, after Nevada passed a new 9% entertainment tax last year, their relationship is getting tense.
While Insomniac has no plans to leave just yet, Pasquale Rotella says the festival will “absolutely” consider moving elsewhere if taxes ever make ticket prices unaffordable.
“We don’t want our crowd alienated, and we’ve been doing our best to represent their interests,” says Rotella.
Even though this year’s event sold out in the end, with tickets already costing $430, it won’t be long before fans revolt as they once did with Ultra’s exorbitant prices.
Additionally, San Bernardino’s county government isn’t too happy with Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland either. The massive spring festival is beginning to prove too strenuous on local residents, and the County Supervisor Janice Rutherford, is planning to introduce legislation in hopes to terminate Live Nation’s contract with the NOS Events Center.
“These are by far the largest events at the San Manuel Amphitheater, and the venue just gets crushed. It can be a two-hour wait to leave the venue, and attendees are going to the bathroom in people’s yards. It’s untenable.” -Scott Vanhorne, County Spokesman
Still, Rotella isn’t fazed, “We’re going to continue to work with their concerns. This is part of growing, and it’s nothing new.” It remains to be seen what happens to Insomniac’s hold on the country’s largest outdoor music venue.
H/T LA Times
