As the Delta variant wreaks havoc and necessitates further event cancellations, Oak View Group has announced additional steps to ensure that its venues have state-of-the-art COVID safeguards in place. This includes Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and UB Arena in Belmont Park, N.Y., both of which are slated to open in the fall. OVG is also now requiring all employees, vendors and sub-contractors working at OVG facilities to be vaccinated.

The firm is endeavoring to enhance venue ventilation, reduce simultaneous occupancy of back-of-house spaces and supersize its sanitation efforts. Mobile/cashless transactions and other mechanisms will be employed to minimize contact. OVG has likewise supported Sharecare’s Health Security VERIFIED procedures, which number 140 “expert-validated standards” to implement the most current requirements.

“When COVID-19 shuttered the live-entertainment industry last year, OVG didn’t sit still. Instead, we started taking steps to understand the impact of the virus on our industry,” said OVG CEO Tim Leiweke. “As we all continue to navigate the variants and changes in health-safety procedures, so too will OVG take the necessary steps to ensure we are building and operating the safest venues in the world. Artists, fans—everyone—can take comfort knowing that when they step foot into an OVG venue, they will have a safe and comfortable entertainment experience.”