Task force to review crowd safety following Astroworld tragedy

A new task force will look into how to improve safety at large events following last year’s major incident at Astroworld music festival, in Houston, Texas. The plans for a task force were revealed last year following the November event, where 10 people died after a fatal crowd crush. Eight people died on the scene …

Tickets go on sale for F1 pre-season testing, Bahrain announces contract extension

The Bahrain International Circuit has released tickets for this year’s Formula 1 pre-season testing, while it has also been announced that F1 will continue to race at the Sakhir-based track until at least 2036.  The second round of pre-season testing will take place March 10-12, with those who have already purchased tickets to the Formula …

INTIX founder, Patricia G. Spira, dies aged 98

Patricia G. Spira, founder of the International Ticketing Association (INTIX) and Box Office Management International (BOMI) has died at the age of 98. Spira passed away in San Diego, California on February 12. Spira graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1967 with a BA in history, before going on to become the Box Office …

Businesses urged to apply for leftover Government COVID support grants

English businesses are being urged to keep applying for £840m ($1.3bn/€1bn) worth of COVID-19 support grants, which are still available. Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Paul Scully, has urged businesses to apply for the grants, which were made available by the Government to councils across the country. Funding is made up …

European K-Pop festival adds new date due to high demand

K-Pop festival KPOP.FLEX has added a second day to its programme due to a demand for tickets from across Europe.  The festival in Frankfurt is organised by K-Pop Europa, in collaboration with PK Events and Korean broadcaster SBS Television Network. K-Pop Europa is a partnership between live events companies Live Company Group and Explorado Group.  …

FAI abandons streaming season passes to protect match attendances

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has ditched its season pass option for its LOI TV streaming service, in order to protect match attendances during the forthcoming 2022 season.  Matches across the Premier Division, First Division and Women’s National League during the 2022 season – which begins this month – will still be available to …

Granted experiential ticketing platform launches

Granted, a new experiential ticketing platform, has announced its public launch and a $3m (£2.2m/€2.6m) seed investment.  The new platform will offer tickets to concerts and sporting events globally and aims to develop a secondary market offering to give artists and creators access to royalties.  Granted has been designed for millennials, Generation Z concert-goers and …

Wales to relax remaining restrictions on events and venues

Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that from February 18, the legal requirement to show a COVID Pass to enter certain venues and events will be removed.  The COVID Pass was originally brought in to show proof of vaccination against coronavirus, or a negative test upon entry.  Drakeford said: “With increasing numbers of people …

Green group reveals most environmentally friendly festivals

A Greener Festival (AGF), a not-for-profit company that assists events, festivals and venues in reducing their environmental impact, has revealed its selection of the greenest events and festivals from last year.  Events across Europe, the UK and the US were hailed for the environmental efforts.  Paradise City Festival, an electronic music festival in Perk, Belgium, …