MUSIC NEWS - CA's Coachella festival could move to a different location from its current Empire Polo Club home as well as miss 2014 as a result of a tax fight. The problem stems from a proposed local admissions tax on entertainment events with audiences of 2,500 or more. Coachella promoters say the tax would cause the festival and its sister event Stagecoach Festival, to move to a new site.
According to Mydesert.com, the tax would raise ticket prices by $36.00 each, something Goldenvoice president Paul Tollett, whose company run the festivals, says they cannot accept.
Of the tax, which is being proposed by California councilor Sam Torres and will be voted on in November, Tollett said: "If the tax initiative of putting $4 million to $6 million onto Coachella gets on the ballot. We're going to take off 2014; 2015 we'll be at a new facility outside of Indio."
The tax was voted down last month by Indio City Council in California, but if Torres, who says that the tax will only add $18 per ticket, gets his way it will be voted on in November.
UPDATE 7-6-12 - News is out that Coachella Festival will not be moving after the on-going tax dispute has been settled. Sam Torres recently backed down from his revenue proposal, stating, "I don't take a threat from Paul Tollett lightly. I cannot in good conscience allow this to happen no matter how dire the city's circumstance. My sincere hope is that we can now move past this episode and I personally look forward to working to enhance relationships."
Comments