The sound of silence has filled the entertainment venues at many Southern California casinos over the last year, and not because they were stops for a Simon and Garfunkel tribute band.
As the region’s casinos mapped out what to bring back after their coronavirus closures in mid-2020, most focused on gaming, dining, hotel stays while other components of their business, particularly entertainment, remained on the back burner as the live entertainment industry as a whole remained shut down.
Only a couple of tribal-owned casinos in the region, Pala Casino Spa Resort and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, offered limited live entertainment consistently during the pandemic. They were able to do so because of their tribal sovereignty which allowed them to set their own rules even as California prohibited large gatherings.
But now, things are starting to change. As tours return to large venues such as FivePoint Amphitheatre and SoFi Stadium, well-recognized casino showrooms are announcing the return of bands and artists as well.
