Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Report: 2012 Electric Daisy Carnival brought in $207 million to Clark County

2012 EDC: Day 3

Steve Marcus

Festivalgoers listen to electronic dance music at the Circuit Grounds stage during the final night of the Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, June 10, 2012.

2012 EDC: Wild Styles of Attendees

Fans show off their elaborate, over-the-top style at the Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, June 10, 2012. Launch slideshow »

2012 EDC: First Night

Concertgoers dance during the first night of the Electric Daisy Carnival early Saturday, June 9, 2012, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Launch slideshow »

2012 EDC: Night 2

Night 2 of the 2012 Electric Daisy Carnival featuring Bassnectar, Calvin Harris, Martin Solveig and Headhunterz at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 9, 2012. Launch slideshow »

2012 EDC: Day 3

Festival-goers listen to electronic dance music at the kinetic FIELD during the final night of the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday night/Monday morning June 11, 2012. Launch slideshow »

Insomniac, the organizer behind June’s Electric Daisy Carnival, says the three-day event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway brought in an estimated $207 million to the Clark County economy.

That amount, part of an economic impact report released today by Beacon Economics LLC, marks a 52 percent increase from the $136 million estimated by Beacon to have been brought by the 2011 Electric Daisy Carnival.

According to the report, the festival produced an estimated $13.1 million in tax revenue for the state and local government, the equivalent of 2,018 full-time jobs and $84 million in income for employees in Clark County.

“For the second year in a row, our fans’ loyalty has helped support the Las Vegas community by generating millions in tax dollars and providing jobs. Las Vegas has embraced us, and I’m excited to continue our work together,” Pasquale Rotella, president and CEO of Insomniac, said in a statement.

The study, commissioned by festival producers, compiled their estimates using data from a survey of more than 22,000 festival attendees and additional information provided by Insomniac.

The festival, which moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2011, drew more than 320,000 fans in June, up from 230,000 previous the year. The report estimates that 90 percent of attendees in 2012 traveled from outside the Las Vegas area.

Combined with the local market, those attendees spent more than $103 million -- a 45 percent increase over 2011 -- including $28.3 million on accommodations, $19.8 million on transportation, $19.6 million on dining, $17.2 million on gaming, $10.5 million on entertainment and $7.9 million on retail.

The report also credits the revenue spike to the expansion of events surrounding this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival, including the “EDC Week” pool parties and nightlife events and the inaugural EDMBiz Conference for professionals in the burgeoning Electronic Dance Music industry. The week of activities is estimated to have brought in an additional $70 million in output, $28.5 million in income for Clark County employees, 618 jobs and $4.2 million in state and local taxes from 2011.

"We are very pleased with the production and growth of EDC," said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. "EDC created a new business conference and significantly increased festival attendance. Insomniac continues to raise the bar with their unique sensory spectacle."

Plans for the 17th annual Electric Daisy Carnival and related events have yet to be announced.

See also: Getting to know EDC goers could help Las Vegas in the long run

Was Electric Daisy Carnival the beginning of a rave-based economy?

Follow Andrea Domanick on Twitter at @AndreaDomanick and fan her on Facebook at Facebook.com/AndreaDomanick.

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