The venue, which can seat more than 14,000 for performances, has hosted tour-opening concerts by everyone from U2 and Chance the Rapper to Slayer and Justin Bieber. Under Hahn’s guidance, the sprawling venue - which has been known as Pechanga Arena San Diego since 2018 - grew from an aging, under-utilized facility into an award-winning industry leader for concerts and sporting events alike. He’s always been very entrepreneurial, which is why he would pursue all types of events at the arena, not just concerts.” “But Ernie starting a festival in San Diego was not a big leap for him. “It’s unusual in our world that a venue operator embarks on festival production,” Jacobs said. Moss Jacobs, the Santa Barbara president of AEG/Goldenvoice - Live Nation’s biggest global competitor - agreed.

It doesn’t surprise me he started Wonderfront because he’s always looking ahead,” said Candace Mandracia, the former San Diego president of Live Nation, the world’s largest concert and live event’s producer.

“Ernie’s such a go-getter, and he’s had so many relationships with so many people in our business. (Alan Hess Photography / Pechanga Arena – San Diego) ‘Always looking ahead’

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