Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Sets Socially Distanced Standard With Outdoor, In-Person Shows

“It’s not because each area has its own political agenda, sometimes it’s based on science,” says Tom Boyd, director of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, a regular summer concert venue in the city of Vail, Colo., about an hour and a half drive from Denver. 

“Eagle County, Colorado, was one of the early hotspots but we were also early to get out of this,” Boyd says, emphasizing that the amphitheatre’s shows are in full accordance with local regulations and working closely with local health officials to be as safe as possible. 

As various markets open up across the country, “How can we lead the way forward, what does it look like when we’re being respectful of COVID-19 but also aware that we cannot shut down our lives and economy completely for years and years until this passes?” Boyd says. “ What is a responsible way to open in a really cautious and careful manner? That’s what we’re doing at the Ford Amphitheatre.”

The 2,500-capacity amphitheatre regularly hosts major touring acts in the summer, with last year’s schedule featuring two Trey Anastasio performances, as well as the Steve Miller Band, Gary Clark Jr., Bon Iver, Nathaniel Rateliff and others. This year is down to 175 capacity, with shows by Lindsey Stirling and Michael Franti moved to next summer.

Starting July 15, however, after much rescheduling and a lot of extra work, programming resumed, so far with family entertainment including showings of the new “Trolls” movie and “Remember the Titans.” Local bands have done free shows, and touring artists playing ticketed shows will begin soon, starting with Tenth Mountain Division on Aug. 4, “Days Between: A Jerry Garcia Tribute” for two shows Aug. 8, and The Samples on Aug. 11. 

It’s not a slam dunk logistically, but Boyd says it is important to set a standard of how to operate as things open back up, and much needed for the community.

“The economics of running a show like that obviously isn’t very good,” says Boyd. “We have 35-40 people running the show, that’s including people moving through the venue cleaning at all times cleaning on a cycle, coming in an hour before the show, sanitizing seats, working the venue alway through the show through close. You’ve got additional bag check, additional greeters informing people of our very strict protocols, then we have ushers walking through kindly, gently reminding people to stay six feet apart, wear face coverings, stay in groups of eight or less.”

The venue is part of the Vail Valley Foundation, a mission-driven nonprofit raising quality of life through the arts, athletics and education, but the recently resumed summer programming at the Amp has paid off in other ways, Boyd says.

“When fans are in their seats and in their family group and able to sit back with a beverage and enjoy the show – that’s been worth it,” says Boyd, acknowledging the pandemic era reopening has been a real labor of love. “It’s a beautiful venue, they can stay in their family group and really enjoy themselves, something they haven’t been able to do for a very long time.”

“The artists themselves, the musicians, the guys who run production, audio, video, nothing feels better in this world than walking into a venue where you’ve got 25 people hanging speakers, working lights, they’re being employed,” says Boyd. “We’re not short shrifting or giving them half rate, we’re paying what we did last year. We’re saying, ‘Come to work.’”

Boyd acknowledges things can change as each region assesses its own situation and enacts its rules accordingly, but can only adapt and work day to day.

“We feel we’re doing something that is very important, which is taking care of the secondary effect of COVID-19,” Boyd says, adding that the governor local officials could change the rules if the situation in Colorado or locally changes. “It’s good for our economy, good for the mental health of the people coming and enjoying our shows, good for the families to have something to do instead of staying in their homes. We’ve tried to operate the best we can in the environment that we’re in. ”

The response has been positive, Boyd says, with any naysayers quickly learning how careful they’ve been. And, although the first show was only July 15, Boyd says no one’s gotten sick.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, 500-1, maybe even less,” he says. “We’re not taking a bunch of people, throwing them in a mosh pit with a bunch of beers and saying have at it. This is a very controlled environment.”

While any show feels like a win right now, Boyd says not to let your guard down.

“It’s a victory for us but could also be a death knell if we do it wrong, if i don’t make sure every single guy in production is washing hands, if I didn’t have hand sanitizers every five feet, you can’t be sloppy about it,” he says.

“Absolutely 100% compliance is all we will accept, that’s it. Everyone working backstage, everybody on site, we wear masks all day, that’s the way it is. We’re serious about this. If we do it wrong, the governor, public health, the people watching out for us will say, ‘You guys are a potential source of spread,’ and we’re determined to do our best not to let that happen.”