Photo Courtesy of KAABOO San Diego
After being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, KAABOO San Diego is making a return in 2022. The event’s annual economic impact is roughly $35 million.
KAABOO San Diego, formerly KAABOO Del Mar, is making a return to San Diego.
After announcing it would be relocating from the Del Mar Fairgrounds to Petco Park in 2019, and after being cancelled last year and this year due to COVID-19, KAABOO organizers have announced the festival will make a comeback in 2022.
As of press time, it was unclear if KAABOO would indeed be held at the home of the San Diego Padres, as originally planned.
Returning KAABOO
“For those ticket holders holding tickets from the COVID canceled 2020 weekend previously scheduled at Petco Park, your ticket allocation remains intact and will be honored at the returning KAABOO San Diego,” read a statement. “We appreciate the ongoing support and patience of 2020 ticket holders as we undertake the preparations for the 2022 return of KAABOO San Diego.”
Jason Felts is KAABOO’s former chief marketing officer and founder/CEO of Virgin Fest, which acquired all the KAABOO brand assets through the music festival arm of the Virgin brand in 2019 for a reported $10 million.
At the end of last year, he left his post at KAABOO. Yet, comments from Felts were also included in the latest announcement.
“Long overdue and with great excitement, I am finally able to announce that KAABOO is returning to San Diego,” he said. “After much reported controversy surrounding KAABOO’s former ownership in 2019, followed by the global pandemic, I am pleased to announce that the show will go on. I know many have been awaiting updates and I sincerely apologize for the silence, which was beyond my personal control. Silent no more, I am pleased to announce that the KAABOO brand and event is in great hands and is here to stay. Although I do not run the brand or vent any longer, I am thrilled that the forthcoming announcement from the festival organizers will please all past, present and future KAABOO fans.”
The release followed an original announcement posted on the KAABOO San Diego Facebook and Instagram pages, which teased its return following months of silence from organizers.
“We are pleased to announce that as our world is beginning to return to regular programming, we have been hard at work tuning our strings for the highly anticipated return of KAABOO. Stay tuned for exciting news and announcements coming soon via social and email. We appreciate your patience and continued support of the brand. More soon…” the entry read.
When reached, a Petco Park spokesperson responded: “We have not been contacted by KAABOO about hosting their event at Petco Park in 2022. Unfortunately, that’s all the info we have to share on this topic.”
Multiyear Agreement
In late 2019, KAABOO organizers announced the 2015-founded festival would move from the Del Mar Fairgrounds to Petco Park starting in 2020. According to a news release, the music, comedy, art and culinary festival had reached a multiyear agreement with the San Diego Padres to use Petco Park. KAABOO was to utilize various areas inside and surrounding Petco Park, including the playing field, Sycuan Stage at the Park, Lexus Premier Lot and the Tailgate Lot.
But COVID-19 halted those plans.
“Due to the growth of KAABOO in its previous location, and an overwhelming demand by traveling guests for an increase in lodging options, as well as a lack of pre and post event brand activation and celebration spaces, it became apparent a while ago that a move to San Diego’s vibrant downtown was to be the evolution of KAABOO in Southern California,” said Felts in a 2019 statement. “As the KAABOO brand and our live event properties continue to grow and evolve, it’s imperative that we continue to deliver an unparalleled experience for our guests by holding KAABOO in a world-class venue with exceptional room for growth. The location of Petco Park and its surrounding venues in downtown San Diego provides fans and artists alike the opportunity to enjoy everything that the vibrant metro area has to offer.”
$35 Million Annually
While much is still unclear, like who will lead the event following Felts’ exit and where the affair will actually take place, what is certain is that KAABOO San Diego has a significant economic impact on the local region; economic activity is about $35 million annually, according to former host Del Mar Fairgrounds.
KAABOO San Diego
FOUNDED: 2015
OWNER: Virgin Fest
HEADQUARTERS: Petco Park
BUSINESS: Festival
EMPLOYEES: Estimated at roughly 100, according to reports
NOTABLE: Kaaboo expanded outside of San Diego in 2019.
CONTACT: boxoffice@kaaboosd.com