Indoor venues functioning at full capacity
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Tuesday, an updated health order went into effect, removing all capacity restrictions for indoor events.
For local venues, that was the best news to hear. One of those venues celebrating the public health order is the The Broadmoor World Arena.
The 8,000 seat venue hosts concerts, sporting events, graduations, and more. Though they have kept busy throughout the pandemic hosting outdoor movie nights and vaccination sites, this news comes as a breath of fresh air.
Dot Lischick, the general manager at The Broadmoor World Arena, says Tuesday's phone call from the El Paso County Health Department is the call she's been waiting for.
"We are getting back to what we miss the most, getting together with Colorado Springs," said Lischick. "You cannot open a building this large and have the financials work for 20 people, 25 people."
During the pandemic, the arena has been able to work with the Colorado State High School Association and have done some of their events, but now they can plan for more.
This news is also music to the ears of live music venues.
"2020 was a whirlwind-- it is exciting to know we are going to have shows again," expressed Kevin Zirfas, the general manager at The Black Sheep located on E. Platte Ave.
While The Black Sheep has struggled to keep its doors open all year long, Zirfas credits the community for never giving up on the venue.
"We got a lot of help from the community buying merchandise from us and a lot of cool grants came from the government to help small venues," said Zirfas.
The Black Sheep began hosting shows a couple of months ago with about 50 people, social distancing, and with people seated, but now they are preparing to host shows with 500 people at their venue.
"It's just full force from here on out.--once we got the news that we can host shows we got a full slot of people just buying tickets," said Zirfas.
The public health order is set to expire July 1 and can be amended based on the virus activity in the state.
Masks are still recommended at concerts for those 12 and up who are not vaccinated or fully vaccinated.
For a list of events at The Broadmoor World Arena click here.
For a list of events at The Black Sheep click here.
