Live concerts making a roaring comeback to South Florida; some with mandatory COVID-19 protocols

Eva Woods, Staff Writer|September 28, 2021

Harry Styles will be performing at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise on Oct. 8. Attendees must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and be masked.

It has been a long year and a half for the music industry. As of now, most music venues are open once again, and concerts that had to be postponed due to COVID-19 are back on the calendar with rescheduled dates.

South Florida venues, such as the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, and the FTX Arena in Miami, are back to having packed crowds at the various concerts they are hosting. Some COVID-19 protocols, such as mask-wearing, are in place depending on the performer and the arena.

On September 3, country music singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett performed at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre on his Center Point Road Tour. He was joined by fellow country music artists Cole Swindell and Gabby Barrett.

“I’ve only been to one other concert before the pandemic and it was inside an arena,” Olympic Heights senior Brianna Wuis explained. “Honestly, the Thomas Rhett concert felt pretty similar to the one I went to before because it was very packed, but I felt safer being outside rather than inside of an arena because of Covid.”

The iTHINK Financial Amphitheater is an outdoor venue that offers covered stadium-style seating and lawn seating.Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lawn seating, in theory, allows for everyone to put at least a little distance between themselves rather than only a few inches.

One upcoming concert is Harry Styles on his Love On Tour, at the FLA Live Arena on October 8. Styles is asking that masks be worn while he performs and that attendees provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken at least 48 hours prior to the concert.

Like Styles, the Jonas brothers are requiring their concert goers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The Jonas Brothers are coming to the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre on October 17.

Overall the music industry is back up and running, and many people are grateful for it. “I am looking forward to enjoying the night with my friends, OH junior Reagen Courtney coomented. “I hope that covid won’t ruin our time and we can stay safe.”

Concerts that were cancelled are now rescheduled and artists’ new tours are being booked. People can once again go out for a night with nothing but loud music and terrible dancing.

Upcoming South Florida Concerts: