Earlier this week, Red Rocks (along with 1,500 venues) put out a plea for help in the form of red lights. Dubbed the #RestartRedAlert, venues nationwide lit up as a call to action for Congress to pass the Restart Act. The bill would bring economic relief to the events industry — which has come to a screeching halt due to the pandemic. According to the organizers of #RestartRedAlert, as many “as 12 million people in the Live Events Industry are currently unemployed, furloughed, or have lost up to 90% of their income, and the world’s largest concert promoters have reported a 98% loss of revenue since the start of the pandemic.”
Today, Denver Arts and Venues are showing just how dire the circumstances are locally. Starting in October, all of its venues will close. This includes many of Denver’s institutions such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex and the McNichols Civic Center Building. The only ones that remain operational are Denver Coliseum and Colorado Convention Center but only for COVID-19 related purposes. Venues will remain closed until larger events are able to restart or pandemic related conditions improve.
Sadly, this means 70 Arts & Venues employees will be furloughed either full-time or part-time starting at the end of September. The furloughs will last until at least January 2021.
“It’s hoped that by pausing things now, at a time when we know our venues won’t be open, Arts & Venues can be in a financial position to reopen quickly once live entertainment returns. This is a tough time for our community and our own staff, and we’re hoping to be back in operation as soon as the arts and cultural industries are allowed,” said Brian Kitts, Denver Arts & Venues spokesperson.
Denver Arts & Venues, although a city agency, is responsible for many of its expenses and is required to raise revenue for its labor expenses, venue maintenance, capital improvements and more. Since it hasn’t been able to throw many ticketed events (save for some fitness classes, socially distant concerts and drive-in movies) the agency can no longer keep up with its many associated costs. So if you’re able to, take one last heart-pounding walk to the top of Red Rocks and soak in the sights while you can.
When you passively accept unconstitutional ( illegal ) tyranny, you can lose more than your business. They accepted it.
Will the Paramount be open in November for Little River Band?
I have never been but I want to go so badly. This saddens me. I am an event worker too. Tough times we live in but I have hope for our future.
Too bad so sad. This is what happens when you build an empire off the slavery of others. I love red rocks but the media giants who fund all these places make a killing while the artists and stagehands etc make peanuts. Not to mention the fact that Red Rocks sells their first few thousand tickets to stub hub and third party vendors so that they can say “sold out show” and then force people to buy through third party vendors. The ticket fees are astronomical and companies like AXS and AEG are just looking to capitalize off a scene that the underground built. They were the same lobbyists pushing to make raves illegal back in the day and using the war on drugs as an excuse. I feel sorry for the lower part of this pyramid but I hope this empire crumbles and we can take it back to underground where all workers get fair wages. These media giants don’t care about the music or the fans just their pockets. Research Phillip Anschutz owner of AEG. You’ll find that his conservative views go against almost anything a festival goers stands for. Give us the scene back that you stole like greedy old men.
This article minimized the actual number of people who make a living off these venues. Those 70 furloughed at this time are the lucky ones. Hundreds if others (including myself) have not worked since March 13,2020. I work security for several contracted companies at all of these venues and am still waiting for government agencies to include me in some form of assistance to help balance the total loss if income I have faced through no fault of my own. Unemployment benefits cover only a portion of past income at lower wages and without recognition of pay increases or promotions. If I work at all (even 1 hour) partial unemployment is only a portion of that portion. I am not a portion of a person. I put my whole heart into this community and each blow this pandemic has landed has hurt in ways that can’t be calculated by the IRS. I want everyone to stay safe, but I have a very difficult time understanding why churches and other indoor gatherings are okie dokie, but outdoor gatherings at locations I consider places of worship are considered dangerous. I want to work, I want to gather, I want to be treated like a person with a hard earned profession that has value. The situation for me has already been difficult, for many it has been deadly. How much more serious does it have to get before the government sees this loss as a community loss with far reaching financial and emotional consequences?
We totally understand. That’s why we included this in the intro: “12 million people in the Live Events Industry are currently unemployed, furloughed, or have lost up to 90% of their income, and the world’s largest concert promoters have reported a 98% loss of revenue since the start of the pandemic.”
So the tyrannical governor shuts down businesses and this venue is in “protest” demanding federal funds to offset their losses ? I’m all for demanding “state funds” but I’m guessing they love the same party that took their ability to operate and want to leverage the “other party” with deeper pockets. The people of Colorado voted for Polis. When you vote for tyrants you get tyranny. Anyone surprised by this is simply living with their heads in the sand.
I was born and raised in Denver lives there 50 years but had to leave due to sky hi cost of living that’ll the pot brought with it.but tonow have venues. Cut that actually bring insome revenue for people who need it to survive. We are doing nothing but demolishing any hopes of even thinking about making end meet for a revenue that could helpkeep people in business. All that is happening is unenmaginable loss and set backs and sending people to poverty life style sad