As soon as I heard that Los Angeles-based group Club 90s would be hosting a “Heated RivalRave” at The Observatory North Park, time stopped and the world spun. I immediately phoned my friends with a statement of conviction so intense it has yet to be paralleled: “We’re going to the cottage.” 

There’s no debate about it: The steamy sports drama series “Heated Rivalry” became an unprecedented global phenomenon entering 2026. Skating past the competition, the show and its creators have revived a level of celebrity not seen since the ’90s, reminding us all that queer romance needs more attention. And the attention has been astonishing: take Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything,” Hudson Williams’ Wonderland photoshoot, and Connor Storrie’s whimsical YouTube archive as three examples. TikTok, understandably, blew up with heartfelt tributes, thirst traps, and fancams of the show. It should come as no surprise that the rave reviews for our Hollanov superstars translated quite well onto the dance floor. 

In the explosion of communally-created iconography fuming from TikTok search engines, Club 90s found ample opportunity to jumpstart a worldwide club tour. Cleverly named the “Heated RivalRave,” the lights are turned down low while a high-energy DJ broadcasts “HockeyTok” to a fanatic crowd. It’s like scrolling through your TikTok For You page, but in the company of other fans with a high dose of sensory overload to top it off in the best way possible.

Thankfully, Club 90s made a pit stop here in San Diego at The Observatory on Feb. 6. Snatching up the tickets was no easy endeavor; “Heated RivalRave” tickets sold out in under five minutes when they went on sale in January. But fret no further, dear reader: The party will be back at The Observatory on Feb. 20, 21, and 27 for every heated rival who missed the first one.

When the big day arrived, my watching buddies and I were more than ready. After heading inside the venue and capturing a few pictures, my friends and I snaked our way through the pit to get a full view of the stage. Suddenly, the room went dark, and the words “Welcome to the Cottage” flashed across the center screen. DJ Mikey Luján strutted out to Kesha’s “Blow” in a fur-coated hockey jersey; in the words of Kesha herself, “This place about to blow.” 

Colorful lights reflected off of everyone’s wide eyes as a nearly extraterrestrial ambience beamed the entire room up into a collective craze. Everyone let loose to the booming soundtrack and jumped in synchrony to the overhead projections that showed fancams of our favorite “Heated Rivalry” characters.

Loud, bombastic songs like “Toxic” by Britney Spears and “Guess” by Charli xcx featuring Billie Eilish started the night. Then, some slower ballads like Paramore’s “The Only Exception” had everyone swaying like an ocean tide. We all, of course, started freaking out when “HockeyTok” classics like “Rock Me” by One Direction and “All the Things She Said” performed by Harrison sounded through the speakers. Hearing “Rasputin – Club Mix” by Boney M. and G. Mart fill the space was a highlight for me; the song backed a fan-favorite Ilya Rozanov edit and got everyone dancing, following a “Just Dance” sequence on the screen. 

We were all just “One Of Your Girls” during this experience exclusively understandable to fans and hopeless romantics. All of us were possessed by an electric vibe induced by both DJ Luján and our hockey guys on the big screen. The energy persisted throughout the whole night. 

The “Heated RivalRave” was like any other rave, with its exciting atmosphere and vibrant participants. But it was also its own unique cultural entity. The rave’s “Heated Rivalry” theme uplifted every participant and celebrated the freedom to follow your heart. For three hours, there were no haters or insecurities perforating our fun-filled night. It was a liberating congregation of heat, joy, and passion for a wonderfully freeing show — one that advocates for living as our authentic selves and loving each other in defiance of the world’s darkness.

Thank you, Club 90s. You truly came through and delivered a top-tier human experience. Jumping to our rhythmic heartbeats, then standing still and staring our desires right in the face — all the things that were said before and after the event faded away. We truly found love, and loved hard, in a hopeless place.