First it was Pearl Jam, then it was Zac Brown Band. Fears over the spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, have disrupted events across the country. Unfortunately for local music fans, St. Louis hasn’t been immune.
Both groups announced this week that they have postponed the first legs of their respective spring tours, meaning Thursday’s Zac Brown Band show at Enterprise Center is off, as is Pearl Jam’s April 4 concert at the downtown arena. Representatives of St. Louis’ largest entertainment venues met with officials from the city’s health department on Tuesday, looking for guidance on how to host other upcoming events that will draw big crowds, while also minimizing the risk to visitors.
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Concern over COVID-19 has been heightened in the area after a local woman who had been studying in Italy tested positive for the virus after returning home last week. With a busy summer concert season on tap for St. Louis, venue operators are taking extra steps to keep guests safe in the weeks ahead.
Enterprise Center and Stifel Theatre
Enterprise Center has been gearing up for an exciting series of concerts in 2020 after building renovations during each of the past three summers limited the number of shows it could host. Although this week’s postponements are no doubt a disappointing development for locals, the arena is still scheduled to host upcoming performances by Billie Eilish (March 28), Rage Against The Machine (May 16), and Justin Bieber (July 13), among others.
Next door, the Stifel Theatre counts Nathaniel Rateliff (March 19), Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit (June 21), and Lewis Capaldi (July 26) among the acts it anticipates hosting in the coming weeks and months. For now, venue officials are monitoring whether more postponements are on the horizon.
“While some artists have postponed their national tours, we will continue to host events currently scheduled at Enterprise Center and Stifel Theatre,” a spokesperson for both venues said in a statement. “This is a rapidly changing matter that requires frequent evaluation and assessment by all involved, and at all times we will heed the guidance of national and local officials and health authorities. Our commitment to the health, safety and security of everyone who represents our organization, or visits Enterprise Center or Stifel Theatre, is our one and only priority.”
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
The outdoor venue in Maryland Heights has another big summer on deck, with scheduled visits by Brooks & Dunn (May 15), Alanis Morissette (July 18), and The Black Keys (July 21), among others. Although the new season isn’t set to kick off until early May, the amphitheatre’s promoter is already taking measures to protect guests.
Live Nation’s plan for the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre will be the same as it is at its other properties throughout the country. The company is placing hand sanitizer stations throughout its venues, replacing hand pump condiment dispensers with individual packages, allowing visitors to bring disposable wipes and hand sanitizers into facilities, and increasing the frequency of its cleaning routines in the high-traffic areas of its venues.
“At this time, shows at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis are proceeding as planned,” a Live Nation spokesperson said in a statement. “The safety of our artists, fans, and staff is always our top priority and planned for accordingly. We encourage those who are sick to stay home, and remind everyone coming to our venues to wash their hands regularly with soap and water and use hand sanitizer. Live Nation venues in St. Louis, including the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies.”
The Pageant and Delmar Hall
A steady stream of artists take the stages at The Pageant and Delmar Hall all year long, bringing a sense of urgency to staffers of the neighboring venues. They don’t have weeks to prepare for the next swarm of concertgoers. They only have hours.
So employees have been tasked with disinfecting surfaces throughout each venue, including floor areas for ticketed guests, backstage rooms for performers, and staff-only areas, too. Staffers are armed with paper towels and spray bottles, wiping door handles multiple times per night in an effort to curb the potential spread of sickness.
“We’re doing everything we can think of, anything that’s prudent to try our best to keep (the virus) at bay,” said Pat Hagin, co-partner of The Pageant. “The biggest thing is, if you’re not feeling well, don’t come.”
