Re: 2020 Tour Rumors
Nothing has changed. Same as it's been since last March. The Virus will dictate what happens. The #'s will determine the course that's taken. Nobody can see the future with certainty, but things are certainly looking better now than at any point in the last 12 months.
Masks, Vaccinations/Herd Immunity, Social Distancing. Two of those Three are necessary for us to return to a sense of normalcy. Once enough people get vaccinated, and IF people can follow guidelines related to the wearing of masks, the restrictions surrounding social distancing can be gradually lessened. This is why many experts and some large companies, like Disney, are saying that Masks will likely be necessary through at least 2022. They are not saying that about social distancing.
That said, I still feel like somewhat restrictive social distancing is going to be with us at least until we reach a vaccination level approaching herd immunity, although perhaps not all the way to it. It is highly unlikely that America will be there before late Summer, at which point the guard rails could start to come down. Just not all the way. And they will certainly come down quicker for outdoor events than indoor. So yeah, by the time College Football rolls around, there might be stadiums that can be 50% or more filled.
As for concerts, the question may very well be, whether bands/acts are willing to forego a full house, even though in the past they'd decline playing without a certain payout. Perhaps venues, desperate to hold shows, might offer incentives, in order to reach some sort of compromise. But the fact remains, there is no way DMB is going to be playing to 25K+ at The Gorge over a 3 Day Labor Day Weekend, with everyone camping within a 3 mile radius.
I still don't see a chance of cramming 15K+ into an outdoor amphitheatre until at least year end. But 50-75% capacity shows by September, might have a chance. But again, the #'s and the virus will determine what occurs 6 months from now. For that reason, I could as easily see DMB scrap the entire Summer Tour and push it to 2022, as I could them postponing to this Fall or Summer 2022, the first part of the tour, while leaving intact the dates After The Gorge.
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