For over a decade, Coachella has turned the once spare desert community of Indio and the surrounding cities into a thriving destination for the world’s dedicated music fans. And in the process, the country’s most famous music gathering has brought in untold millions of dollars to these communities, many of which have more than doubled in sizes during Coachella’s tenure.
Now, of course, comes the party poopers. The city of Indio, where Coachella takes place, has delayed the signing of this year’s Coachella contract, bowing to pressure from neighboring La Quinta city council to conduct an environmental impact review of the event, which is planned to be extended to two weekends this coming April. Indio has delayed signing the annual contract with promoters Goldenvoice while they consider the review that could extend well past the festival’s planned dates. LA Weekly has the gritty details here.
Of course, anyone who has watched Coachella grow up the past decade, has to wonder if at least part of the growth experienced by these communities can’t in fact be traces directly back to Coachella. And as you drive across the miles and miles of gated golf communities that have sprouted up in the past decade, you have to wonder how many might have been then had Coachella not put Indio on the map.
Is that Mariqueen?
The crowd has become younger and younger over the years, some call Coachella “a right of passage for the modern teenager.” Nothing wrong with that but when you have the majority of attendees teens and early 20s it’s not the same kind of experience it used to be.
Nothing like sweaty college kids fist-pumping to bro-step and running around with Indian headdresses.
Even with all that. I still like Coachella and hope Goldenvoice can pull this off. The city probably just wants more $$
Went to Coachella last year and stayed at a friends gated community about a mile away in La Quinta. His neighbors were…. let’s say less, than pleased to have a house full of 20-somethings partying for 4 days straight. Wrong community for this type of event, too bad its the absolute perfect venue.
done with coachella. tweens and overzealous security have ruined it. not to mention the booking has gotten worse and worse every year since ‘07. i can hold out for DEMF each year, no problem.