Vax Live: SoFi Stadium To Host First Major Concert This Weekend With Fully Vaccinated Spectators
INGLEWOOD (CBSLA) — After a season of hosting NFL games with empty seats, Inglewood's SoFi Stadium will finally make a major public debut this weekend when it hosts Global Citizen's VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World.
Thousands of fully vaccinated spectators will attend the charity concert that is aimed at boosting confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and raising funds for vaccination efforts worldwide.
"India just topped over 18 million COVID cases today," Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said Friday. "That's devastating, and they don't have access to the readily available vaccines like we do here in the U.S. right now."
It will also mark the first major event with spectators at the $5 billion stadium.
The concert, hosted by Selena Gomez, will be taped at 6 p.m. on Sunday and will air on multiple platforms on May 8 as part of a worldwide fundraising event.
According to organizers, the concert will be held in front of an audience of "fully vaccinated frontline health care and essential workers."
Dr. Priscilla Hanudel, assistant chief of the emergency department at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, will be there. She Tweeted out how excited she is.
"I actually just picked up my wristband...so we're ready to go," she said.
The ticket disclaimer requires all attendees to have received their final dose of COVID-19 vaccine no later than April 18 -- allowing the required two-week time frame to be considered fully vaccinated.
Organizers have not said how many fans will be in attendance, however, state and county guidelines could allow for tens of thousands of fans to attend the event.
Attendees are required to show proof of full vaccination which will negate the need for social distancing. Masks however will likely be mandated.
Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R. are all scheduled to perform at the event.
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will serve as co-chairs for the Global Citizen fundraising campaign aimed at providing COVID vaccines in poverty-ravaged countries.
"When I heard that the Duke and Duchess, Prince Harry and Meghan, were going to be there, that's probably going to be the highlight of my year," Hanudel said.
President Joe Biden and his wife and Vice President Kamala Harris will also appear on the broadcast along with other world leaders and celebrities.
"The whole objective of this concert is to try to secure at least 10 million doses for the heroic doctors and nurses on the frontlines all around the world," Evans said.
Those attending the concert will have to put their cellphones in a locked baggie because the concert is being recorded for the public to watch streaming and on-air next Saturday on CBS2.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
