AEG Presents, one the largest concert promoters in the United States, have announced that those attending their shows, festivals, etc. in the U.S. will be required to have a full COVID-19 vaccination to be granted admittance. That policy will go into effect starting October 01st. Prior to that, they will allow either proof of a full vaccination of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of the event.
AEG are involved with a number of big festivals, including ‘Coachella‘, Stagecoach and more. They also oversee several large venues, including the Staples Center, El Rey Theatre & The Roxy in Los Angeles, Brooklyn Steel and Webster Hall in New York City and more.
AEG Presents Chairman/CEO, etc. Jay Marciano said in a statement:
“We have come to the conclusion that, as a market leader, it was up to us to take a real stand on vaccination status. Just a few weeks ago, we were optimistic about where our business, and country, were heading. The Delta variant, combined with vaccine hesitancy, is pushing us in the wrong direction again.
We realize that some people might look at this as a dramatic step, but it’s the right one. We also are aware that there might be some initial pushback, but I’m confident and hopeful that, at the end of the day, we will be on the right side of history and doing what’s best for artists, fans, and live event workers.”
He later added:
“Our hope is that our pro-active stance encourages people to do the right thing and get vaccinated. We’ve already had to deliver bad news about JazzFest this week; I think everyone can agree that we don’t want concerts to go away again, and this is the best way to keep that from happening.”
Shawn Trell COO and General Counsel, AEG Presents also commented on the open-ended policy, offering:
“Certain states’ regulations may override our mandate, or a few artists may not want to immediately get on board with the plan, but we know that using our platform to take a strong position on vaccinations can make an impact. The message we want to send is simple and clear: the only way to be as safe as possible is to require everyone to be vaccinated. And we’re confident that others who haven’t been ready to make this full commitment yet will follow our lead.”