Ocean Center Glows Red to Draw Attention to Impact of COVID-19

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

The Ocean Center, premier meeting, convention, and event complex, will glow red September 1, beginning at 9 p.m. to midnight to draw attention to the financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic.

County-owned and operated Ocean Center in Daytona Beach is expected to be one of as many as 1,500 buildings that will be participating in tonight’s Red Alert for Live Events Industry. More than 700 buildings took part in a similar event last month in the United Kingdom to raise awareness about how the pandemic has ravaged the events industry – everything from plays, dance performances, and opera houses to concert tours, trade shows, and festivals.

Impacts from the financial hardship of the industry go beyond the performer's event organizers, venues, and audiences hungry for entertainment. The financial effects are being felt by designers, technicians, programmers, stagehands, rental shops, manufacturers, and distributors of entertainment technology, to name a few.

The Ocean center has fared better than other venues as they hosted professional boxing events and a reptile expo within the last two weeks, but in many parts of the country, the industry is all but shuttered due to the pandemic.

“The pandemic is having a huge impact on the live events industry and the jobs that go with it,” said Ocean Center Director Tim Riddle. “The ripple effect has been devastating to millions of people in markets all over the world. For all of the affected workers who are fighting for survival, this is a red alert.”

In addition to generating public awareness, tonight’s event also is designed to send a message to Congress urging passage of pending legislation that would extend the federal paycheck protection program.