Electric Daisy Carnival rave moving to Las Vegas after conflict and controversy at the Coliseum
A giant rave that has become the subject of a conflict-of-interest scandal and safety concerns will not return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this summer.
The producer of the Electric Daisy Carnival, Insomniac Inc., said in a statement that the rave’s return to the Coliseum has been “postponed” and that the event would make its debut in Las Vegas in June, the same month of its scheduled engagement here.
Insomniac has staged raves at the Coliseum and the neighboring Sports Arena for 13 years.
The statement gave no hint at when the postponement might end, but some Coliseum Commission members said that Electric Daisy probably would not be coming back to the stadium.
Insomniac had lost support on the commission after The Times reported earlier this month that a Coliseum administrator doubled as a paid consultant to the producer.
“They probably made a good business decision for them,” Commission President David Israel said of Insomniac. “The writing on the wall was as clear as graffiti.”
Commissioner Rick Caruso said, “My first reaction is good riddance.”
The administrator who worked on the side for Insomniac, Todd DeStefano, was responsible for planning security and medical services for the rave. His dual employment had been approved by then-Commission General Manager Patrick Lynch, who resigned in the wake of the Times disclosures.
DeStefano’s ties to Insomniac are under investigation by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office and the state Fair Political Practices Commission. He has denied doing anything wrong.
--Andrew Blankstein, Ron Lin and Paul Pringle
Related: Electric Daisy Carnival rave will not return to L.A. in June, officials say
EDITOR'S PICKS:
The coverage of the L.A Times has been abysmal and one sided. Declaring war on a genre of music in the name of safety. This is like Rap music 10 years ago or Rock 30. Drugs happen at public gatherings. The best you can do is have proper security.
By the way, nowhere in this article did you mention how EDC brought MILLIONS into the L.A Economy. Not anymore, idiots. Enjoy being broke.
Posted by: jb | February 24, 2011 at 05:36 PM
Wow!
Posted by: Mike | February 24, 2011 at 05:38 PM
This is awesome news!!! It'll keep the kiddies at home and there will actually be rooms available for those who can go unlike USC.
Posted by: DAn | February 24, 2011 at 05:39 PM
THANK YOU LA Times and your Anti-Rave agenda. You've convinced Insomniac to take THE BEST music festival on this side of the Mississippi to a city that will better appreciate the tax revenue and better host this fantastic event!
VIVA LAS VEGAS & PLUR 4 Life! :)
Posted by: Anthony | February 24, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Congrats on driving $40 million out of California based on a skewed representation of facts. It's too bad your reporters have no idea how to present facts to the public in an unbiased way. I hope you all get raises so you can give back to your community financially to make up for this. Maybe you guys can go out and stop rock'n'roll too. Or public schools. I heard they're a real nuisance filled with drug use too.
Posted by: Steve | February 24, 2011 at 05:45 PM
haha I love when these articles keep saying that 15 year old died of an 'ecstasy overdose'
She didn't even die at the event, and then her 'friends' said her water was 'spiked' with E. They're the ones that probably gave it to her haha.
The rave doesn't breed drug use and unruly behavior. The patrons do. There's no signs at EDC that say 'OMG TAKE DRUGS THE MUSIC WILL SOUND WAY BETTER'.
You're putting the people who are responsible and care about the music into the same category as these uneducated and poorly-parented kids.
Fine, take it to Vegas to make that city more money. Good luck trying to keep the Coliseum open in 3/5 years. More CA state taxes coming our way to pay for unused venues.
Posted by: ANON | February 24, 2011 at 05:46 PM
WHO CARES
Posted by: KEVIN | February 24, 2011 at 05:49 PM
what about the scores of people who die every year at other music festivals? i don't understand why this one is being singled out? kids are going to experiment with drugs, wouldn't you rather have them at a public event with the proper personnel, than in someones basement? Most of these kids will end up driving to Las Vegas for the event anyway, so think about what they've done...
Posted by: anony | February 24, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Make it 21+ !!! Please!
Posted by: Anna | February 24, 2011 at 06:01 PM
That's a shame :/
Posted by: Cameron Dockan | February 24, 2011 at 06:16 PM
it would be nice if they don't change the dates or at least land them close to the original time frame. some of us work overseas and barely get some time off and requested these dates immediately.
Posted by: Dally | February 24, 2011 at 06:17 PM
I understand that its a bad thing when some dies but it was the first time in 13 year. I'm sure there's been plenty of people that have died at rock concerts or any concert for that matter. Don't take away the best place for edc.
Posted by: naythan. Postin | February 24, 2011 at 06:34 PM
I shall say, I am pretty gloomy over this news, as I just got the time off of work for my birthday vacation to EDC and I am surely NOT going to go to Nevada. People should not abuse drugs. It ruins the music for those who love it. Unfortunately, commercialism and biased behavior, as well as unruly young people, has created a sad situation for those who care about the rave scene. Perhaps the parents of that fifteen year old should be questioned, they knew she was going and let her go without the company of a responsible adult. It is their fault, she was their responsibility. Insomiac Events has really taken a fall due to the parents neglect. Such a shame.
Posted by: Bethany | February 24, 2011 at 06:41 PM
but where in vegas?
Posted by: lizzie | February 24, 2011 at 06:41 PM
YAY! ^_^
Posted by: Rainbow | February 24, 2011 at 06:45 PM
The event drew criticism from local authorities after numerous people were taken to the hospital by paramedics, and after a 15 year old attendee died of hyponatremia, an electrolyte disturbance in the body, by consuming too much water too fast.. NOT E
Posted by: matt | February 24, 2011 at 06:47 PM
Also the girl used a fake ID to get into the event. they dont allow 15 year olds..
Posted by: Bradley | February 24, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Electric Daisy Carnival generated over $30 million in revenue in Los Angeles alone last year along with creating 4000 jobs. When will Los Angeles realize more people die from alcohol related incidents rather than drug overdoses at these raves.
Posted by: Soren | February 24, 2011 at 07:01 PM
Fantastic!
Posted by: u know | February 24, 2011 at 07:08 PM
There should be a correction made on this report.
"Last year’s Electric Daisy was marred by scores of drug-related arrests and trips to emergency rooms. A 15-year-old girl died from an Ecstasy overdose."
That information is incorrect and misleading. It was determined that the girl overdosed from an electrolyte imbalance caused by drinking too much cold water at once. In short, she overdosed on water. Ecstasy had nothing to do with it. It happens to anyone who tires themselves out or is dehydrated and tries to overcompensate.
It's shining a light on these events making them seem as if it's all about drugs when it should be used to help educate and inform those who are interested in these events. A correction should be made.
Posted by: Kream | February 24, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Caruso is just making a name for himself in order to run for mayor. I hope he is consistent and will ban USC events, rock concerts, hip hop shows or anything else when bad things happen at the coliseum in the future to prove he is consistent and not discriminatory towards electronic music.
Posted by: tyler d | February 24, 2011 at 07:19 PM
seriously? can you stop twisting words? THE GIRL DID NOT DIE OF ECSTASY OVERDOSE.
lack of obama care = irresponsible family cant keep irresponsible kid alive
Posted by: mr. trancis | February 24, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Have you ever been to Las Vegas in june? Talk about kids overheating....
Posted by: Richard | February 24, 2011 at 07:33 PM
I COMPLETELY agree with jb. Also instead of furthering investigations into how the 15 year-old died, just like any biased news media, they would rather jump to conclusions. If one took the time to actually investigate, he or she will find that there is actually no reputable scientific evidence or studies that ecstacy is harmful or rather death-provoking. If people really thought about doing their own research instead of gobbling up spoon-fed rumors, then our country would not be as up-tight and ignorant as it is now. And as jb put it ,"By the way, nowhere in this article did you mention how EDC brought MILLIONS into the L.A Economy. Not anymore, idiots. Enjoy being broke." Im a California resident, and even I was put to shame knowing that an event or events that could slowly but surely bring us out of our recession is being 'post-poned' due to the lack of the will of outsiders to really dig deeper.
Keep those highschool kids in school, or at least keep them at their own events. And let the more experienced, or able-to-be-responsible folks have our fun.
As I always say, PEACE. LOVE. UNITY. RESPECT. & RESPONSIBILITY
Posted by: Matt | February 24, 2011 at 07:50 PM
I Really Dont See What The Problem Is. Just Hire More Security. And ACTUALLY SEARCH PEOPLE Befor Entering. Problem Solved.
Posted by: Me | February 24, 2011 at 07:54 PM