PPG Paints Arena recommends masks, starting with tonight's James Taylor concert
PPG Paints Arena announced it will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s masking recommendations – beginning with tonight’s James Taylor concert.
Taylor is scheduled to take the stage after Jackson Browne opens at 7:30 p.m.
“Out of an abundance of caution with Allegheny County reaching the designated threshold of new cases, PPG Paints Arena will begin following guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending that all guests entering the arena wear masks,” Tim McNulty, vice president of public affairs for the Pittsburgh Penguins, said in a statement.
He said the arena has experience in safely operating under the constraints of the pandemic during Pittsburgh Penguins games.
Officials will continue to work with UPMC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to “follow all public health guidelines set by federal, state and local authorities to keep arena visitors, workers, players and performers safe, just as the team did during the return of fans to games this spring.”
“With the help of our partners and especially our fans, we were able to welcome thousands safely back into PPG Paints Arena this spring, and we were able to implement protocols to open at full capacity with masks this June,” said Gary Desjardins, general manager at PPG Paints Arena/ASM Global. “All the precautions we put in place — from paperless ticketing to cashless transactions and thorough cleaning and air quality controls — are still in effect for tonight’s concert and all events going forward.”
Last week, the CDC recommended that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where coronavirus cases are surging.
The announcement comes as Western Pennsylvania counties — including Allegheny County — have recently experienced “substantial” covid-19 transmission, according to the CDC.
The James Taylor concert had already been rescheduled from last year.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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