Andy Barron / Reno Gazette-Journal
People gather around the Trojan Horse as it is pulled across the “playa” at the Burning Man festival in Gerlach, Nev., on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 | 2:48 p.m.
Southern Nevada is already fighting Northern Nevada over education funding, university money and road projects this session. Now add Burning Man to the list.
After a presentation on the economic activity, charitable giving and cultural development that the giant counter-culture art festival in the Black Rock Desert generates for Northern Nevada, Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, had a question for the event's organizers.
"We have a lot of dry lake beds in Southern Nevada," Parks said. "Have you ever contemplated, perhaps... off I-15, we've got the Ivanpah Lakebed."
The lobbyists at the table before Parks' committee didn't exactly commit to moving south. But lobbyist Tom Clark noted that the desert outside of Las Vegas used to be home to a regional event that ended up growing too big and ultimately had to cancel when the federal government started asking for an event fee.
"It is definitely bringing people into our state," Clark said.
The Burning Man festival typically draws about 60,000 celebrants to the desert north of Reno. By one estimate, the event generates $30 million in economic activity for the region.








Politicians are funny. This is Burning Man, not EDC. We'll have a balanced federal budget before Burning Man moves to the vicinity of Las Vegas.
Oh, God - yeah, let's move BM to an even hotter desert location.
Great idea. Let's also move it to mid July.
BTW, the $30 million is the LEGAL amount brought in. When you put illegal drug sales in the mix, you can double that number---easily.
At least here in Southern Nevada the participants will get trash collection once a week.
Yeaaaahhhh , lets move the dope smokers party to Southern Nevada, kind of like having the Grateful Dead back again, just keep away from the Lake the last time the Dead was here the dead heads left a ring around the lake and it's still there. Keep it up north.
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
Las Vegas is like the spoiled kid in the sandbox that wants everybody else's toys.
And with this type of mindset Las Vegas continues to spiral in a downward fashion.
My fellow commenters. You are correct, Burning Man is just a big weed party for rude and irresponsible drug addicts and losers. You should never EVER go. You would absolutely hate it there.
No, really. I'm serious. Please. Do not ever consider going!
We already have a dope smoking party in Nevada. It's called Las Vegas. Why not bring another one in?
LOL whats wrong Las Vegas can't handle the truth? Flag me all you want, it just speaks volumes more than my comments. Steal our revenue then complain about where the tax money goes, typical.
By many of the comments posted here I can only assume most of you have never been to Burning Man.
You are commenting on what you think rather than what you know for fact.
Harry Reid supported this Burning Man cluster boink, so it must be a good thing.
David Parks has no clue as to Ivanpah Dry Lake Bed. It is reserved for wind powered vehicle use ONLY via a (free) BLM permit. Elaine and the folks at BLM in Needles would NEVER approve Burning Man for that site. It's also nowhere near the size of Black Rock and it has an evaporation pond for the molybdenum processing facility just up the mountain.
Plus, it's also in California. There's not a whole lot of influence that Nevada has over federally controlled land in California.
HERESY!!!
vegaslee--
"You are commenting on what you think rather than what you know for fact."
Now that's a fact!