Sports bars ready to go ‘live’ again

Until sports bars and restaurants started hosting live music events, concertgoers would have to wait for a major stage show to witness their favourite local artistes in action.

But with the birth of events such as Tracks Live Sessions and 100 Live, spots such as Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records (UBTR) and 100 became entertainment hubs.

However, with COVID-19 continuing to cripple the entertainment industry, the sweet musical sounds that used to breathe life into these hotspots have been silenced.

Today, like many others in the entertainment industry, managers of these spots are eager to get back into the swing of things.

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR, Sudu Ramani, chief financial officer at 100, said that his team is looking forward to resuming normal operations at the Hope Road spot in the 'new normal'.

"Social distancing, clearly, will change the face of entertainment going forward. While practice of sanitation and other precautions will be an added part of daily life, social distancing is sure to change a person's perception of entertainment. We have therefore changed the formats of several of our events to allow for social distancing without affecting the entertainment experience of our guests," he said. "We have had queries and comments continuously on our social media and other communication platforms (about the live music package). 100 is a popular destination for persons seeking fine dining and wholesome entertainment. Several persons have expressed a keen desire to patronise our venue once again."

Pre-COVID, 100 Live sessions saw performances from the likes of Agent Sasco, Tessellated, Frisco Kid, Louis Culture, and Mr Lexx.

"Clearly, there is no set formula to reopening the economy, and so a phased opening is probably the best way to go about it in order to gauge the impact. The economy has suffered, a lot and it is time steps be taken to kick-start the economy while taking due precautions," Ramani said.

Angiel Shaw, group marketing manager of the KLE Group Ltd, which operates UBTR, said patrons have been reaching out about a resumption date for the dine-in experience, and live entertainment package.

She said that her team is initiating all the necessary public health and safety protocols for patrons and staff.

"There are several automated sanitisation stations conveniently located throughout the restaurant. All staff members and patrons are required to wear masks within the space and sanitise upon entry. We have signs within the space and the entrance stating our new policies for patrons to be aware prior to entering," she said. "We have redesigned the seating layout to conform with the six-feet social-distancing requirement for in-house dining. Tables, chairs, and condiments will also be sanitised after each table has been cleared. It will be a long journey back to full-capacity dining and entertainment as we know it. Based on the reopening protocols, events and restaurant spaces are going to be driven by small, intimate crowds, supported by online promotions, but we are ready."