Inglewood, California, has decided to ban music performance stages at the elevated American Airlines Plaza following a surge of noise complaints after the Hard Summer techno-music festival held outside SoFi Stadium. In a statement, Mayor James Butts stated that the elevated stage in the plaza was a significant factor contributing to the issue, leading to the decision to prohibit stages in that area for future events.

The city will now require more extensive sound engineering with a comprehensive plan to address sound and bass frequency management. Complaints from South Bay communities, particularly El Segundo, included reports of vibrations and loud noises from the festival, featuring artists like Nelly Furtado and Disclosure. Despite previous outdoor concerts at the Hollywood Park property without complaints, the city worked with festival organizers to address the problem, focusing on specific bass frequencies affected by various factors.

El Segundo Police received over 100 noise complaints, prompting the ban on music stages at SoFi Plaza. Mayor Butts expressed perplexity at the issue, given the history of successful outdoor concerts at the plaza. Collaborative efforts with event promoters and venue officials led to adjustments to stage setups and additional measures to mitigate noise concerns.

The HARD Summer festival organizers responded to the complaints by deploying sound monitors in the field to ensure compliance with legal decibel levels. While acknowledging the issues raised, the organizers reassured that they were actively monitoring and addressing noise complaints to uphold quality standards during future events.