Rolling Stone (5/19/20) Beaugez, Jim

Despite threats of police intervention, a temporary revocation of a liquor license and a rescheduled show date, the Travis McCready concert at Arkansas’s TempleLive took place Monday, May 18. Although the venue’s audience capacity was reduced by 80% and required attendees to wear face masks while inside the venue, more than 200 fans showed up to support the first pandemic concert in the United States. Concertgoers were greeted by TempleLive staff, who checked temperatures with an infrared thermometer. Inside, attendees followed tape markings to help them maintain a six-foot distance when purchasing merchandise and food and beverage. No more than 10 people were allowed in bathrooms at a time. “The fundamental question of this whole experiment is how to address safety and how to address the economics,” Lance Beatty, President of Beatty Capital Group, says. “What’s the impact on food and beverage? What’s the impact on the fan experience? That’s what everyone is sitting around, pulling the levers, trying to figure out. We’re charting new territory here.”

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