Riverside County Health Department cancels both events
The Coachella and Stagecoach festivals are officially canceled for 2020 as growing concerns for the coronavirus outbreak to worsen this fall. The Riverside County Health Department, where the massive festivals take place each spring, called off the events.
“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county’s public health officer, says in a written statement, KTLA reports. “In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward.”
The news doesn’t come as a surprise as most major concerts and festivals have either canceled or postponed until 2021. In March, Goldenvoice, the festivals’ promoters, postponed both events from three weekends in April to two in October 2020 due to COVID-19.
Earlier today, we reported that the events were reportedly canceled following an internal memo Billboard retrieved. The memo detailed parent company AEG’s plans to layoff 15% of its staff, furlough more than 100, and decrease pay of 20%-50% of others.
Coachella may return to 60% capacity in April 2021, or possibly back to full capacity in October 2021, the memo shares. No word on who will be headlining, but NBC Palm Springs reports indicates the company has asked 2020 headliners Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine and Travis Scott to hold back for 2021.
Around 40% of Coachella ticketholders had requested refunds after its postponement, according to Billboard.
Neither AEG nor Goldenvoice have commented as of press time.