
Photo Credit: Photo by Robinson Avila from Pexels
How This 'Socially Distanced' Venue Could Change How We Attend Concerts
The U.K. held its first concert with social distancing measures in early August and it could change the way we attend large events.
The Sam Fender concert drew more than 2,500 concert-goers in Newcastle’s Gosforth Park, which is the first of its kind since the coronavirus restrictions imposed earlier this year in the United Kingdom.
Inside the pop-up venue were 500 elevated metal platforms that each seated five attendees, all of whom must arrive in the same car. All of the platforms were separated 6 ½ feet apart.
Next up it’s @samfendermusic
— Virgin Money Unity Arena (@VMUnityArena) August 11, 2020
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Attendees received guidance on the venue’s website that directed them on mitigation efforts, including a socially distanced queuing system for the entering the arena after parking. Next, attenders were directed by staff to their allocated platform, and they pre-ordered food and drinks on their phones.
Guests were not allowed to leave their platforms unless they were going to the restrooms located at the end of every row of platforms.
Promoter SSD Concerts, which announced the concept earlier this year, has more than 20 other artists on the schedule through September, including Two Door Cinema Club and Patrick Topping, as reported in Yahoo News.
And some social media users hope this is the new normal.
am i that much of an old man that i think this looks preferable to an actual festival? https://t.co/sLQAs0oQCS
— hermione (@thorlokid) August 12, 2020
i’ve reached the age where this looks like an absolute dream https://t.co/XuMPKWEqs5
— sam💥 (@unlostsam) August 12, 2020
oh no everybody at the concert can see the stage and has a clear path to the bathroom and is pretty much in VIP this is horrible! https://t.co/x6Hzp0m1WF
— maurice (@tallmaurice) August 12, 2020