UPDATE 6/16/21: St. Joe’s Amp is lifting its vaccine requirement and all Covid restrictions for concerts.
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Covid-19 vaccines are now required for Live Nation amphitheaters in Upstate New York this summer. What does that mean?
Ticket pages for concerts at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, the Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts were quietly updated this week with an “Important Note”:
“Current guidelines from the State of New York require that all attendees must present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter the venue and attend this show. The Event Organizer wants to make sure you are aware of these current guidelines before purchasing tickets. This requirement will apply to all members of your party. Please note the State has not confirmed how far into the future this requirement will be in effect. The Event Organizer will not issue ticket refunds if you are unable to provide proof of vaccine at the time of the event.”
Live Nation has not responded to multiple requests for additional details, leaving many fans with questions about potential refunds, whether kids can still attend shows and more. Here’s everything we know and don’t know:
Which Upstate New York venues are requiring proof of vaccination?
St. Joe’s Amp, Darien Lake, SPAC, Bethel Woods, CMAC (Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center) in Canandaigua, and the Artpark in Lewiston. The Artpark said it specifically would require fully vaccinated fans for any concert with a capacity above 500 persons, which includes all Live Nation shows.
How can I show proof of vaccination?
Concertgoers can show proof of a vaccination with their Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card or by using the New York State Excelsior Pass (available for download here). Photo ID will also be required.
What about children?
Children under age 12 are not eligible to be vaccinated, and vaccination rates are still low among older children. Some syracuse.com readers said Live Nation informed them that kids under 12 can attend shows with their parents, but they must wear a mask.
Live Nation and ASM Global, which operates the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, have not responded to syracuse.com requests for verification.
What if I can’t get vaccinated?
Live Nation has not indicated any exceptions for people who may not be medically able to get the Covid-19 vaccine due to allergies or other health conditions.
What if I get a fake Covid vaccine card?
It’s a crime. According to NPR, several people have been arrested for allegedly selling fake coronavirus vaccination cards. A California bar owner was charged last month with identity theft, forging government documents, falsifying medical records and having a loaded, unregistered handgun. A now-former CVS employee in Long Island was caught with blank vaccination cards he planned to give to family and friends; New York lawmakers passed legislation last week that could make it a felony to forge or possess fake immunization records, including Covid-19 cards.
Is there any way to get a refund?
Live Nation’s website says anyone buying tickets now will not be eligible for a refund if they’re not vaccinated by the date of their show. For people who bought tickets earlier — some of this summer’s shows are rescheduled from 2020 — ticketholders have reported receiving emails from Live Nation offering a narrow window to request a refund.
“While I am sure you are as excited as we are to get back to enjoying live music, if you would prefer to no longer attend the event because of this health guideline, the Event Organizer has opened a refund window through (11:59pm on June 17),” said an email to Luke Bryan ticketholders for the country star’s July 8 concert at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse.
CMAC, which was first to announce it would be a fully vaccinated concert site this year, said anyone who is unable to get the Covid vaccine or chooses not to get vaccinated will be offered full refunds for any previously purchased tickets. CMAC sells tickets through Ticketmaster, which is owned by Live Nation, but it is an independent venue.
Can I sell my tickets?
Yes, Live Nation allows ticketholders to resell their tickets through Verified Tickets. Visit the livenation.com page for the concert you want to sell tickets to, and click on “Sell Tickets” in the top-right corner. Tickets can also be sold on third-party sites like StubHub, Seat Geek, TicketCity and Vivid Seats. Whoever you sell or transfer your tickets to will still need to show proof of vaccination.
Why is Live Nation requiring people to be vaccinated?
Live Nation’s claim that New York state guidelines require all attendees to be vaccinated is not accurate, but NYS does require all attendees to be vaccinated if a venue is going to open at 100% capacity. Live Nation is a business and likely wants to maximize capacity and sell as many tickets as possible. Unvaccinated concert venues are still required to allow space for social distancing, effectively reducing capacity to about 33%.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a strong proponent of the Covid-19 vaccine, said he was not involved in Live Nation’s decision to restrict St. Joe’s Amp concerts to those with vaccines.
Will masks be required? Will we still have to socially distance?
Live Nation isn’t specifically saying, but masks, social distancing and capacity limits are not required for large outdoor concert venues in New York state if all attendees are vaccinated. The notice indicates the Amp and others will be open at 100% capacity with no face coverings or social distancing.
But I thought the CDC and New York state were lifting Covid restrictions.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said earlier this week that most of New York’s remaining coronavirus restrictions would end one 70% of the state’s adults have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. However, large events, sports stadiums and concert venues like the amphitheater will still be required to have social distancing and masks — unless all attendees are fully vaccinated, in which case capacity can be 100% and attendees will not need to wear face coverings. Some venues have opted for limited capacity with masks and social distancing requirements, while others like Live Nation appear to be trying to get as many fans in as possible by requiring all attendees to be vaccinated.
What about HIPAA laws?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires some patients’ health information be protected, but it is not a violation of HIPAA laws for non-health care businesses to ask for proof of a Covid vaccine. HIPAA’s privacy rule applies to people in medical-related fields, including insurance and medical providers. Stores, schools, travel providers, and entertainment venues can legally ask customers if they’ve been vaccinated.
Where can I get a Covid vaccine?
Everyone age 12 and over in New York State is eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine for free. You can find a vaccine provider near you at vaccines.gov/search/, make an appointment at Onondaga County clinics, visit a New York State clinic (including the NYS Fairgrounds) here, or find a local pharmacy for appointments and walk-in shots. For more information, call the New York State Vaccination Hotline at 1.833.NYS.4VAX (1.833.697.4829).
Note: A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after getting their final dose. That means a ticketholder who hasn’t received their first shot of a two-dose vaccine yet will not be fully vaccinated by the time Luke Bryan performs at the St. Joe’s Amp in Syracuse on July 8 or Trey Anastasio at SPAC on June 18-20; they could, on the other hand, get the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine by June 28.
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