WILMINGTON — Live Nation announced it will enforce all performers and fans to prove their Covid-19 vaccinations or present a negative Covid-19 test in order to attend shows they’re hosting at their venues or festivals this fall.
RELATED: Performers could require vaccine proof, Covid test at local Live Nation-managed amphitheaters
Live Nation confirmed its employees will need to be vaccinated in order to work at its venues, events or offices by Oct. 4 — the same day the mandated vaccinations or Covid-19-test policy will go into effect, “where permitted by law.” Venues operated by governments in a state that prohibits such mandates or vaccination proof (i.e. “vaccine passports”) would not be allowed to execute the policy.
The policy comes as the rise in Covid-19 cases resurge across the nation; Aug. 9 was the biggest single-day peak of new cases since January, topping out at 178,466.
Locally, the entertainment company manages both Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and Live Oak Pavilion at Riverfront Park. The mandate will impact five Greenfield Lake concerts, including Thievery Corporation, Infamous Stringdusters, and all three Big Something concerts. Concertgoers heading to Live Oak Pavilion to see Chicago, Brett Eldredge and Lake Street Dive also will be mandated by the new policy.
Port City Daily asked Live Nation how vaccination cards will be authenticated and if refunds will be allowed for ticket holders who don’t wish to oblige the policy; the article will be updated if and when representatives respond.
“Vaccines are going to be your ticket back to shows,” Live Nation’s president and CEO, Michael Rapino, said in a release. “[W]e will be following the model we developed for Lollapalooza and requiring this for artists, fans and employees at Live Nation venues and festivals everywhere possible in the US.”
The four-day festival, Lollapalooza, took place two weeks ago and required around 385,000 attendees to either prove their vaccination status or show a negative Covid-19 test to enter Grant Park in Chicago. According to ABC news affiliate WLS, the Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday that 203 attendees so far have tested positive, which equates to 0.05% of the concert population; no deaths were linked to the event.
Last week, Live Nation addressed how third-party venues would encourage and allow artists and performers to choose how their shows should be handled individually, as part of its “best practices” policy.
“Large tours usually involve venues Live Nation doesn’t own, which always has to be driven by the artist and that has not changed,” Anna Bailer, of The Lede Company PR firm, wrote in an email.
Coachella and Jazz Fest producer AEG Presents announced Thursday it also is enacting the same mandated vaccination and negative Covid-19 test policy to go into effect Oct. 1 nationwide for its festivals, concerts and venues.
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