Coliseum Scandal Casts Spotlight on Rave Culture

Last Friday, two former executives of the Memorial Coliseum, two rave promoters and two other contractors were indicted on 29 counts of bribery, embezzlement, conspiracy and conflict of interest. Today's LA Times reports that one of the contractors is still at large and may be out of the country. District Attorney Steven Cooley says millions of public dollars were stolen and that prosecution will be conducted "aggressively." Jointly run by the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the State of California, the Coliseum has hosted two Summer Olympic Games, John Kennedy's nomination as President, several world series and Super Bowls, and a mass conducted by Pope John Paul II. But since 2005, almost all the events there have been raves, also known as "electronic dance concerts."