More than 100 noise complaints from last weekend’s HARD Summer festival outside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood has resulted in a ban on future music events at the venue’s elevated American Airlines Plaza.
Inglewood Mayor James Butts said in a statement that the elevated stage in the plaza was determined to be a “major contributor to the issue” of noise complaints.
“Consequently, no stages will be permitted in this area for future events,” Butts said in his statement.
The HARD Summer festival featured four outdoor music stages positioned outside SoFi Stadium in the surrounding parking lots.
Butts said the city was “perplexed” by the complaints, given the number of previous outdoor concerts held at the plaza without incident. City officials worked with festival organizers between Saturday and Sunday to alleviate the problem, which primarily focused on certain “bass frequencies.”
“Moving forward, and with the lessons learned the past weekend, we are prepared to better monitor and supervise future event organizers to minimize the sound and vibration impact on the community outside the venue,” Butts said.
The El Segundo Police Department noted on X that it has received several calls about the noise emanating from the HARD Summer 2024 festival at Hollywood Park. The lineup catered to electronic, house, techno, dubstep, drum and bass, and hip-hop spread across five stages. It was later revealed that more than 100 noise complaints came in from El Segundo and other South Bay communities.
Acts performing at the festival included Nelly Furtado, Sofi Tukker, Disclosure, Bunt, Camden Cox, Oppidan, Sosa, and Teko, among others.
“We are aware of the loud booming sound affecting the city,” El Segundo department officials posted last weekend. “It is originating from a music festival near SoFi Stadium, scheduled from 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. today and tomorrow. There is no need to call 911 to report.”
The annual festival was scheduled from 2-11 p.m. last Saturday and Sunday. It was being held for the first time at Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, with up to 70,000 daily attendees expected.
The show was previously held at the Shrine Exposition Hall, the Forum (now Kia Forum), Los Angeles State Historic Park, the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in El Monte, and the Fairplex in Pomona.