Dennis RomeroAdded: Commenters are telling us that this event is planned in addition to the party in L.A., and has happened in past years in Vegas. So calling this a “move” would not be accurate. However, if the event in August is canceled, it might be. We changed the headline. We have a call in to the promoter.
Update: The promoter, Reza Gerami, told us indeed that his annual Love Festival in August won't happen at the L.A. Sports Arena but that it is happening elsewhere in L.A., with a venue to be announced soon. More on the conversation to come …
It looks like raves are leaving the publicly owned L.A. Coliseum and Sports Arena, at least for 2011 so far.
After the largest promoter of parties at the venues, Insomniac Events, moved its controversial Electric Daisy Carnival to Las Vegas in June, the other major promoter, Go Ventures, is moving its summer is planning a Love Festival from the Sports Arena to party in Sin City this May.
The moves news come after …
… a Coliseum events manager was discovered to have been working for Insomniac at a time when raves were on thin ice at the venues and Insomniac was lobbying public officials to let them continue.
That kind of alleged double dipping appears to be illegal in theory and the manager, Todd DeStefano, is being investigated by state and city authorities. Coliseum general manager Patrick Lynch resigned as a result of the episode.
Raver girls at the Love Festival in L.A.; Credit: Caesar Sebastian
That all followed June's “EDC,” during which 200 people were treated for medical emergencies, 60 were arrested, and a 15-year-old overdosed on ecstasy and later died.
Four-times-a-year parties at the taxpayer-controlled venues put up consistent numbers of drug-related deaths, hospitalizations and arrests in recent years.
But some argued that they also bring thousands of jobs and millions in revenue to the area.
But after Coliseum Commission president David Israel said he would not support approving EDC for June, the promoter moved the EDC to Las Vegas.
Added: The commission voted to have any future raves come before it for a specific thumbs up or down vote, so an August Love Festival would have to specifically approved.
Fixed: The Love Festival, normally in August, was moved to will take place at the Palms Casino Resort May 27 through 29 (Memorial Day Weekend).
It will feature Paul Oakenfold, Felix Da Housecat, Chromeo, Green Velvet, Morgan Page and more.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.