Tempe concert postponed over city’s vaccine requirement

Boots in the Park, a touring festival of country artists headlined by Jon Pardi, has postponed its date at Tempe Beach Park in response to Tempe’s new COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

An email went out Wednesday, Sept. 8, to ticket holders stating that the concert’s organizers were “extremely disappointed” to announced that the Sept. 18 festival had been postponed.

“Last week, Tempe City Council voted that all attendees of Boots in the Park must be vaccinated to attend the event,” the email read. “A negative COVID test would not suffice among other safety precautions that have been discussed in great length.”

Tempe City Council decided to implement the new vaccine requirements at a meeting held on Monday, Aug. 30. The Tempe requirements go beyond those announced by a group of Arizona music venues in August.

At that meeting, Vice Mayor Randy Keating said, “If you’re not vaccinated, I don’t think you’re entitled to attend public events,” adding that people could test negative for COVID-19 a day or two before the event and then pick “it up on their Uber ride on their way to the concert.”

After noting that their No. 1 priority is “to provide a safe environment for all attendees and staff,” the note to ticket holders said, “we feel this is an unrealistic requirement that is being implemented specifically on our event with only two weeks’ notice.”

The concert was expected to draw up to 8,000 people.

The email gave no information on requesting refunds and concluded with a paragraph about working with the city to reschedule.

“We know that the City of Tempe is acting in what they believe is the best interest of the general public,” it read. “We look forward to working with them again once a clear and consistent plan can be implemented.”