Nomadic Entertainment spent $2.4 million to build the temporary Club Nomadic , which promised a Super Bowl concert space “designed with tiered mezzanines to provide a private and one-of-a-kind, white-glove experience for ticketholders” at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior, Minnesota. But now Nomadic will spend another $1 million to tear down the 65,000 square foot, 9,500-seat facility in the casino’s parking lot before a single note was played. Nomadic sued Mystic Lake in federal court, alleging the casino canceled the venue without notice.
In the suit, New York-based Nomadic is seeking construction and teardown costs plus a share of the casino’s revenues from the concerts, as well as a declaratory judgment that removes Nomadic’s liability for a $5 million performance bond associated with the project.
A lawyer for Nomadic said the casino, located 25 miles from Super Bowl site U.S. Bank Stadium, contacted the company last summer, wanting to offer a venue similar to one Nomadic built for the Super Bowl in Houston last year, where Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars performed. Under their agreement, Nomadic would cover the cost of the building and Mystic Lake’s owners would pay for the performers and production costs.
Nomadic and Mystic Lake announced Club Nomadic in November. The concert lineup included the Chainsmokers on February 1, Kygo and Ellie Goulding on February 2, Florida Georgia Line on February 3 and Gwen Stefani on February 4. Tickets ranged from $200 to $1,500. However, on January 10, the casino sent Nomadic a letter terminating the project. In announcing the cancellation, Mystic Lake stated, “We determined that it would be impossible to ensure an event that is up to our standards of quality.”
Willie Hardacker, attorney for casino owners Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, said the tribe learned of the lawsuit through the media and had been formally served. “However, we were fully within our rights to cancel the contract, and will vigorously defend that decision. This will in no way impact guests visiting Mystic Lake or the entertainment scheduled on February 1 through 4,” he said. Mystic Lake removed Goulding from the lineup and moved the other four performers to indoor spaces at the casino with about one-fifth the capacity of the temporary nightclub. The casino also lowered starting ticket prices to $59.
Nomadic’s deal to renovate the Minneapolis Armory and host concerts by Imagine Dragons, Pink and Jennifer Lopez ahead of the Super Bowl still stands.
