Pollstar (05/04/20) Borba, Ryan

The North American concert industry is proactively planning its rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, with location, population density and the political leanings of state governments likely to influence local venues' reopening policies. Certainty is in short supply for operators in dense locales, while those based in more sparsely populated areas are relatively more optimistic. Montana-based Logjam Presents owner Nick Checota, for example, sees rapid change unfolding in best practices and guidelines in his state. Whereas Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has allowed bars, restaurants and casinos to reopen as long as they restrict themselves to 50% reduced capacity and limited hours, Missoula's City-County Health Department has implemented stricter rules. Arena and stadium owners are awaiting guidance from their respective sports leagues, with President Trump, in unveiling his "Opening Up America Again" plan on April 16, announcing that many commissioners will initially hold events made for TV, without fans. "There's going to be an oversaturation of festivals being rescheduled on top of festivals already existing, on top of tours being rescheduled and oversaturated with existing tours," predicts Prime Social Group co-founder Zach Ruben. Another factor to consider is the desire to maintain social distancing precautions in post-pandemic concert industry models.

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