Rep. Ruiz Fights for Legislation to Strengthen Airspace Safety Protections for Coachella Valley Festivals and Concerts Nationwide

Washington, D.C. — As festival season officially begins in the Coachella Valley and communities across the country, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA‑25) is taking action to make large outdoor concerts and music festivals safer for fans, artists, and workers. This year, Rep. Ruiz introduced the Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act to extend federal airspace protections to these events, protections that currently exist only for major sporting events.

Large gatherings like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival draw more than one million attendees each year. Yet, unlike football stadiums or other major sports venues, there is currently no law requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to restrict airspace over concerts and festivals. Rep. Ruiz’s legislation addresses this gap by directing the FAA to provide Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) for outdoor concerts or festivals with daily attendance of 30,000 or more.

Past incidents, including a 2008 event when an unscheduled airplane dropped confetti-like leaflets over 18 Indio neighborhoods, demonstrate that even seemingly minor airspace intrusions can pose real safety risks. In 2024, multiple concerts nationwide experienced dangerously low-flying aircraft, highlighting the need for action.

“As festival season begins here in the Coachella Valley and across the country, we must ensure fans, artists, and workers are safe,” said Rep. Ruiz. “A stadium full of fans at a football game gets temporary flight protections, but the same stadium hosting a sold-out concert may not. Concerts and festivals bring communities together and celebrate culture. We need comprehensive legislation, like the Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act, to ensure that people can enjoy these events knowing the same safety standards that protect sports fans are protecting them too.”

By giving law enforcement and event organizers the tools to manage airspace over large gatherings, the legislation will help prevent accidents, interference from drones, and other hazards that put attendees at risk.

Representative Ruiz introduced the legislation this Congress and is working with colleagues to advance it, ensuring safety keeps pace with the growing popularity of outdoor music events.

The legislation has earned broad support from event organizers, first responders, and local government leaders:

“At AEG, the safety and well-being of our guests, workers, artists, and communities is our top priority. Rep. Ruiz’s Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act would provide an important tool to help keep our guests and venues safe. We thank him for his work over the years on this topic and we urge Congress to act on his bill.”

— Chief External Affairs OfficerMartha Saucedo, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)

As the largest live-entertainment company operating in the Coachella Valley, AEG produces festivals that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Local first responders tasked with keeping those events safe also voiced their support for the legislation.

“The Riverside County Fire Department thanks Dr. Ruiz for being a champion of this important effort. His advocacy helps address a long-standing gap in airspace safety for large-scale public events, particularly in the eastern portion of Riverside County. This initiative adds a critical layer of protection for spectators, staff, and first responders, and strengthens our ability to safely manage these high-attendance events through coordinated planning and response.”

— Fire Chief Robert Fish, Riverside County Fire Department

In addition to fire and emergency services, law enforcement leaders in Riverside County underscored how federal airspace restrictions would strengthen security operations on the ground.

“With the continued growth of major events in Riverside County, ensuring the safety of attendees, performers, and staff remains our highest priority. Congressman Ruiz’s legislation strengthens coordination with our federal partners and provides essential tools to better manage and deter unauthorized air traffic, including drones, over highly attended venues. These additional protections will help reduce potential threats and allow law enforcement to focus on delivering a safe and secure environment for everyone in attendance. We appreciate Congressman Ruiz’s leadership on this issue and look forward to continued collaboration in safeguarding our communities.”

—CaptainAndrés Martínez, Thermal Station, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

The City of Indio, home to the Empire Polo Club venue where Coachella and Stagecoach take place, also weighed in on the need for stronger airspace protections.

“As City Manager, my top priority is ensuring the safety of our residents, visitors, and the hundreds of thousands of people who attend our large-scale music festivals each year. Implementing Temporary Flight Restrictions is a critical step to strengthen that safety. It would reduce the risk of unauthorized or low-flying aircraft over densely populated event spaces, where even a minor incident could have serious consequences. It would also give our public safety teams the controlled airspace they need to respond quickly and effectively in emergencies.”

— City Manager Bryan Montgomery, City of Indio

The Indio Police Department, which coordinates frontline security throughout festival season, echoed the call for expanded federal protections.

“The Indio Police Department supports Congressman Ruiz’s Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act as an important step toward enhancing public safety during our busy festival season. Events like Coachella and Stagecoach bring hundreds of thousands of attendees to our city each year, making safety our top priority. Expanding federal airspace protections will provide law enforcement and event organizers with critical tools to deter unauthorized aircraft and drone activity, reduce potential risks, and help ensure a safe environment for attendees, artists, and staff. We look forward to continued collaboration to keep our community secure as these events grow.”

— Chief Brian Tully, Indio Police Department