GV Offers Coachella ‘Link’

Called CV Link, the trans-Coachella Valley pathway project “would fit well with our other businesses in the valley,” Goldenvoice COO Skip Paige wrote in a letter to Tom Kirk, Coachella Valley Association of Governments executive director.

“We believe there are opportunities to monetize aspects of CV Link that would allow us to operate and maintain CV Link with no public subsidy required,” Paige wrote. The letter was released to the Desert Sun newspaper, which reported its contents. Paige did not respond to a request for comment, and a representative said none would be forthcoming. The letter apparently raised some eyebrows in the Southern California desert community. The concept – in particular, who would pay for it – has been a hot-button issue, according to the paper.

The letter from Paige praises the concept, while pointing out that Goldenvoice and parent company AEG Live manage events and facilities worldwide and would be a good fit to manage a project that would obviously demonstrate Goldenvoice’s “good neighbor” policy to communities surrounding the two mega-festivals – and at the same time ease access to the festival site. Among the community efforts Goldenvoice has made part of the California festivals are a mobile health care clinic at Riverside County Fairgrounds, helping produce Palm Springs Modernism Week, and presenting Tachevah: A Palm Springs Block Party, essentially a showcase for artists and fans during the week between the two festivals.

The 52-mile CV Link project has not been without controversy, based on its $1 million-and-rising price tag. Residents have raised concerns about “monetizing” the project and possible vista-spoiling signage. Rancho Mirage Mayor Dana Hobart, during a CVAG meeting June 1, warned against “becoming giddy at the prospect of a ‘sugar daddy’ coming to the rescue” while hoping “it comes to fruition,” according to the Desert Sun.