Here's what a physical distance concert looks like amid coronavirus
Things in Newcastle, England, looked very pre-pandemic-like as 2,500 fans gathered at the Virgin Money United Arena on Tuesday night to watch musician Sam Fender play the first major socially distant outdoor concert in the UK since live events shut down in March.
Virgin Money United Arena says they are the UK’s first “dedicated socially distanced music venue” and the venue takes all the necessary protocols to ensure staff, customers, and artist’s safety.
Music goers pay for their tickets online, arrive by car, and are ushered to their own personal platform before the show.
- See also:
Guests can order food and drinks through the VMUA app and servers deliver items to each personal fenced-in platform. Hand sanitizers are sprinkled throughout the site and the arena’s staff are all trained in advance about the safety procedures for maintaining hygiene including hand washing, wearing gloves, and serving and delivering food.
The venue has shows lined up until the end of September including Two Door Cinema Club, Van Morrison, Bill Bailey, Patrick Topping, Tom Grenna, Dinosaur World Live, Supergrass, Jimmy Carr, Jason Manford, Becky Hill, and more.
We are ready… Are you? #VMUnityArena 🚀 pic.twitter.com/sOk1ADc5GK
— Virgin Money Unity Arena (@VMUnityArena) August 11, 2020
“We take safety first and will be providing a comfortable and clean experience for all that attend the events,” says the Virgin Money United Arena website. “We will have also have a trained medical team on site if any assistance is required by customers.”
Could this become the new norm for music venues, events, and festivals?
Next up it’s @samfendermusic
🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/12Sl5R6Mi9— Virgin Money Unity Arena (@VMUnityArena) August 11, 2020
This is what the UK’s first socially distanced venue looks like. Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/oEssJjNSCi
— Radio X (@RadioX) August 13, 2020
🌈 Klub Kid’s Summer Mania venue @VMUnityArena is gaining a lot of attention in the press! Check out this one of a kind purpose built outdoor venue!🌈
🗓 AUGUST 28TH, NEWCASTLE!⠀
🎫 Tickets: https://t.co/BHFZnaZo6L pic.twitter.com/6ldRJf2YKT
— Klub Kids UK (@klubkids_uk) August 13, 2020
#throwback to last night… 🚀🚀🚀
📸 Photos by: @davidwala Photography 📸 pic.twitter.com/JroOvahS1b— Virgin Money Unity Arena (@VMUnityArena) August 12, 2020