LOS ANGELES — The parent company behind concerts such as the Coachella Music and Arts Festival announced Thursday that it will begin requiring proof of vaccination for entry.
AEG Presents said it made the decision based on the recent surge of coronavirus delta variant cases, KTLA reported. In addition to the Coachella event, the company is either an owner or partner in venues and festivals as New York’s Webster Hall and Brooklyn Steel, The Roxy and El Ray Theatre in Los Angeles, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The Theater at Resorts World Las Vegas, Firefly Music Festival and Day N Vegas, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Coachella festival, staged by Goldenvoice, was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic but is scheduled to return in April 2022, the website reported.
“The decision comes on the heels of the dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases as the delta variant spreads throughout the United States,” AEG said in a news release.
For the show to go on, we have updated our vaccination policy to ensure the safety of fans, artists, and live event workers.https://t.co/JkZ2lSJxda pic.twitter.com/jhewW3d3Dl
— AEG Presents (@aegpresents) August 12, 2021
The vaccination policy will take effect no later than Oct. 1, 2021, AEG said in its news release. Thursday’s announcement came a day after AEG Presents said it would require its full-time employees working at its U.S. venues to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, The Palm Springs Desert Sun reported.
EG made the announcement Thursday morning, a day after saying that it would require its full-time employees working at company offices in the U.S. to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We have come to the conclusion that, as a market leader, it was up to us to take a real stand on vaccination status,” Jay Marciano, chief operating officer of AEG and chairman of AEG Presents, said in a statement. “Just a few weeks ago, we were optimistic about where our business, and country, were heading.”
Coachella’s 2022 shows are currently sold out, KTLA reported.
For the show to go on, we have updated our vaccination policy to ensure the safety of fans, artists, and live event workers. More info here:https://t.co/eCrI5ksJRf pic.twitter.com/8BucJm9f43
— Coachella (@coachella) August 12, 2021
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