Venues agree on rules to reopen
Almost a dozen Chattanooga venues, as well as representatives of the city and Hamilton county mayors’ offices, have been working together in recent weeks to develop overarching guidelines for reopening their establishments amid coronavirus.
The Chattanooga Gathering Guide contains almost three dozen protocols such as safety training and the elimination of water fountains. It was compiled by venues large and small, from Songbirds to Finley Stadium, and provides several key concepts these venues have all agreed to try to put into action.
Representatives from the venues, which by default bring together people for gatherings of 10 or more, have agreed to follow certain consistent guidelines to ensure clarity and safety for the community. Reopening dates will be determined by the venues.
“Our event venues are important to the quality of life in our city, and by working together, we can mitigate confusion and set consistent expectations as we reopen,” said Tara Viland, venue manager of The Signal.
“While not every venue will reopen on the same schedule, this coordinated effort should provide our patrons and others with confidence. These venues have put significant time and energy into developing a reopening plan that is consistent with health guidelines and has been done in consultation with our various public officials.”
Featuring recommendations from encouraging mitigation measures consistent with public health guidelines to training and on-site medical safety officers, the Chattanooga Gathering Guide provides a road map for reopening in spite of the recent challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This effort also highlights the Chattanooga spirit of working together to solve big problems, community leaders say.
“As someone still relatively new to Chattanooga, it has been amazing to see all of these entities come together with a common goal,” said Jeremy Alumbaugh, managing director of the Chattanooga Football Club.
“It has been incredible to be part of a strong, collaborative group of like-minded people who are putting the safety and wellbeing of their patrons, employees and, most importantly, the entire Chattanooga community as the first priority,” Alumbaugh said. “Anyone that attends one of these events, whether it is in an indoor venue or outdoors like a Chattanooga FC match, knows that while we are excited about opening back up, we are only doing so with well-thought-out protocols and procedures with everyone’s safety in mind.”