Coachella, Stagecoach festivals to require fans to show proof of vaccination in order to attend

INDIO, Calif. (CNS) -- The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals will require fans to show proof of vaccination in order to attend, festival organizers announced Thursday.

AEG Presents said it will be requiring proof of vaccination for entry into its owned and operated clubs, theatres and festivals nationwide no later than Oct. 1 -- including the Coachella Music & Arts Festival and the country-themed Stagecoach Festival in Indio.

The date was chosen to allow time for eligible unvaccinated ticketholders and staff to reach fully vaccinated status should they choose to do so. Leading up to Oct. 1, AEG will be implementing a policy of showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of show date, where permitted.

"We have come to the conclusion that, as a market leader, it was up to us to take a real stand on vaccination status," said Jay Marciano, chairman and CEO of AEG Presents.

"Just a few weeks ago, we were optimistic about where our business, and country, were heading. The Delta variant, combined with vaccine hesitancy, is pushing us in the wrong direction again. We realize that some people might look at this as a dramatic step, but it's the right one. We also are aware that there might be some initial pushback, but I'm confident and hopeful that, at the end of the day, we will be on the right side of history and doing what's best for artists, fans, and live event workers,'' he added.

The announcement comes one day after AEG, Live Nation Entertainment, Goldenvoice, the Coachella Festival, AXS, the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Chargers all said they will require their full-time employees at eligible company offices in the United States to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exceptions.

Coachella, which was previously postponed multiple times due to the coronavirus, is slated for the weekends of April 15-17 and April 22-24 of 2022, with Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and an unannounced third act headlining the festival.

Stagecoach is scheduled for April 29 to May 1, 2022.