When Coachella and its country-music counterpart Stagecoach were originally postponed to October due to the pandemic, the idea of holding a music festival in the fall seemed a little optimistic. Now, sadly, the 2020 editions of the California festivals have officially been scrapped.
The decision to cancel the festivals was announced on Wednesday by Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser.
“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” Kaiser said. “In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward. These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted. My first priority is the health of the community.”
This will be the first year without a Coachella since 2000, and it presents a huge financial blow to promotor Goldenvoice, which typically rakes in between $75 million and $100 million annually from the festival. On Monday, Goldenvoice’s parent company AEG announced layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts.
“It is clear now that live events with fans will not resume for many months and likely not until sometime in 2021, so we are faced with no easy options,” AEG chief executive Dan Beckerman wrote in a company-wide memo.
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