Event-related COVID-19 restrictions continue to evolve almost daily, but don’t worry, Sequence is here to help! As a global events agency, we are keeping an eye on the latest updates on indoor gatherings and event guidelines and want to share updates from three major cities with you today. You’ll also find some insider information on what our clients are saying, what we are seeing for Summer 2021, and beyond! Get the whole scoop below.
COVID Guidelines
- NYC is increasing the capacity for indoor dining up from 25% to 35% this Friday, February 26.
- Beginning on March 15th, weddings and catered events may resume at 50% capacity, with no more than 150 people per event. All patrons must be tested prior to attending the event.
- Amusement parks and summer camps are slated for reopening:
- On April 9th, outdoor amusement parks across the state will be allowed to reopen at 33% capacity as long as they maintain strict safety protocols like mask-wearing and social distancing.
- Summer camps can plan on welcoming campers back in June as long as they have testing systems in place.
- Indoor family entertainment centers will be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity starting on March 26th.
- Movie theaters and Billiard Halls will be able to reopen starting on March 5th. Movie theaters at 25% capacity, and Billiard Halls at 35% capacity. Both with strict sanitizing protocols and social distancing rules set in place.
- Large stadiums and arenas are now open. Venues with a capacity of over 10,000 will be allowed to host events at 10% capacity after receiving approval from the state Department of Health. All attendees must have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event, and there must be assigned seating, face coverings, temperature checks, and other safety protocols in place.
- Los Angeles is still under tighter restrictions due to higher COVID cases. Amusement parks, bars, indoor movie theaters, and most indoor activities remain shuttered.
- Outdoor dining is open with enhanced safety protocols in place.
- Music, film, and TV Production may continue with strict safety and cleaning protocols.
- Weddings and small gatherings may resume outdoors only. Masks and physical distancing required, no more than 3 separate households may attend (including the host’s own), and gatherings should be 2 hours or less.
- London remains in lockdown until March, at which point the city will begin a roadmap to slowly lifting restrictions:
- On March 8th students will begin returning to school for in-person classes.
- The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on March 29th, but many restrictions will remain in place.
- On April 12th, London plans to open non-essential retail, personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons, outdoor dining, and public buildings.
- On or after May 17th, restrictions will be lifted on outdoor gatherings of under 30 people, movie theaters may reopen, and large venues may resume business with 50% capacity, but no more than 1,000 people.
- On June 21st or after, London hopes to remove all legal limits on social contact.
Updates on Large Scale Events & Festivals
Tribeca Film Festival is proceeding this Summer from June 9-20 to celebrate their 20th anniversary! The film festival plans to hold all events outdoors.
Governor’s Ball Music Festival plans on returning in 2021 (we miss live music!). The festival, which is usually held in June, will instead take place in September with the hope that the vaccine rollout will allow for safe festival attendance by the fall. They plan on returning to their normal June dates in 2022.
The NCAA will allow limited fan attendance at the NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament for all rounds, the Final Four and Championship.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has also pushed its dates back to September, with the hope of a swift return to live outdoor music capabilities come fall.
Conversations We’re Having
- A global athleisure brand is proactively going fully virtual for 2021 events, with the concurrent focus on strategy and planning for an incredible 2022 full of live events!
- A finance association is targeting an in-person conference in Q4 of 2021, with the possibility of a virtual conference backup plan.
- Many of our clients are targeting smaller VIP events with a hybrid component for the larger audience. The virtual portion still amplifies event and attendee reach, while also providing a hedge against any future covid restrictions.
- For any type of in-person event, we’ve been including the costs of added safety measures. Event attendees and staff will need daily temperature checks, PPE and sanitizing stations, social distancing rules, and a comprehensive cleaning and disinfecting plan. There must be signage throughout the venue for social distancing protocol, as well as distanced staffing for enforcement. Seating plans will also need to be created more thoughtfully, likely adding more equipment.
- We expect to see strict testing protocols in NYC for the remainder of the year for all indoor events. As always, we recommend checking NYC’s Department of Health for the latest updates and directives.
Team SEQ is so excited for live events to return when ready, but our main concern is safety! If you are planning a virtual or hybrid event, or considering how to host an event live, Sequence would love to be your guide. Sign up for our 30-minute free consultation to discuss all of your event options. We can’t wait to work with you!
[Cover Photo: Brooklyn Black Tie Ball, 2018. Photo by Christian Rodriguez]