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October’s Desert Trip rock concert in Indio – which some are calling the most significant event of its kind since Woodstock in 1969 – has been expanded to two weekends.
Not only does that mean more music from The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Roger Waters and The Who, it means a greater financial windfall for the Coachella Valley economy, said Josh Bonner, president and chief executive officer of the Indio Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
Upwards of $200 million, to be precise, according to Bonner.
That would be about half of the amount generated by the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which also covers two weekends, and the yearly Stagecoach Festival combined, Bonner said.
Those shows are held at the Empire Polo Club, the same venue that will host Desert Trip.
“Based on what those festivals generate, we think that’s a pretty good estimate,” Bonner said. “But it’s not just going to be the hotels and restaurants that are affected. It will go all the way down to people who are renting their houses. There’s a whole economic infrastructure attached to this thing.”
About 130,000 people – 65,000 per weekend – are expected to attend the performances, which are scheduled for Oct. 7-9 and Oct. 14-16. Ticket prices top out at $1,599 for a three-day pass, and most hotel rooms in the region have already been booked for both weekends.
“I think there are about five hotels that have three rooms each that are still available,” Bonner said. “We’re pleased they added the second weekend.”
