Insomniac expands San Diego footprint with purchase of defunct Omnia Nightclub
Why not San Diego? It’s a question that’s been asked by many in America’s “finest city” when it comes to Insomniac’s notable absence from the music scene just 120 miles south of Insomniac’s headquarters in Los Angeles. And lately, it appears that Insomniac has asked itself that same question.
A not so inconspicuous liquor license has been submitted by none other than Insomniac CEO and founder Pasquale Rotella under the primary owner “WHY NOT SAN DIEGO LLC” for Omnia Nightclub in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp District. The Hakkasan-owned Omnia Nightclub San Diego—which is the sister club to the Las Vegas venue of the same name—was prepared to celebrate its five-year anniversary with shows from Gryffin and Lil Jon on back-to-back nights in April of 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the live music scene to its knees. Although others in the business have since re-opened their doors to eager fans looking to get back on the dance floor, Omnia’s doors have remained shuttered, leaving many wondering what the fate of the club—as well as nightlife in San Diego in general—would look like. Fast forward to 2022, and it appears that San Diego dwellers have their answer. According to EDM Identity, the nightclub will reopen under a new name, NOVA SD.
Although this is not Insomniac’s first move into San Diego, it might be its biggest. Near the end of 2020, Insomniac started the Chula Vista Drive-In Concert Series at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheater, located just 15 miles south of downtown, before the pandemic worsened, forcing shows to be canceled once again. Undeterred, Insomniac once again set eyes on San Diego by bringing its Audiotistic Music Festival to the same venue in November of 2021. The inaugural edition featured SLANDER, Gryffin, Tchami, Svdden Death, and more, and a second iteration has already been confirmed for 2022.
It seems that these moves were, altogether, a precursor to a more permanent move into San Diego with the purchase of the defunct Omnia Nightclub downtown. Insomniac has been aggressive in its expansion efforts throughout the US, including a move into DC in 2019 with the acquisition of Club Glow and its Echostage and Soundcheck venues. Insomniac and Club Glow recently announced the inaugural Project Glow festival in DC, further expanding Insomniac’s footprint on the East Coast, which already includes strong presence in the Florida festival market (with Ultra Music Festival being one of the few outliers). Insomniac is already one of the largest promoters of electronic music in the world, and its expansion into San Diego only continues to amplify their reach.
Via: EDM Identity
Featured image: OMNIA Nightclub: San Diego/Instagram
Categories: Music