With most large-scale gatherings on hold for the foreseeable future, the dearth of live events is already taking a psychological toll, not only on those in the industry but on society at large
Park-goers at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Sept. 1, 2019. Large-scale events are on hold for the foreseeable future. That is taking a toll on the live events industry and society at large. (Johnny Milano/The New York Times)
(News Analysis)
A quandary is lurking at the heart of the efforts to revive the economy.
In recent decades, a growing share of job growth and gross domestic product has come from the business of getting people together — from college sports and music festivals like Coachella to ax-throwing bars and ice cream museums. Yet given the infectious nature of the coronavirus, these very events will be among the very last to return.
“Any place people want to gather is a place no one wants to be right now,” said Joe Pine, a co-author of “The Experience Economy.”
That bleak truth has profound implications for businesses large and small. And with most large-scale gatherings on hold for the foreseeable future, the dearth of live events is already taking a psychological toll, not only on those in the industry but on society at large.
©2019 New York Times News Service