Venues: Plans for concert venues and clubs.

Gov. Doug Ducey lifted all remaining COVID-19 restrictions on businesses and events in Arizona on Thursday, citing expanded vaccine distribution and 10 weeks of declining cases.

Some are interpreting the governor’s announcement as a green light for live music to return to Arizona. Key points that may apply to concerts include:

Events of more than 50 people will

● no longer need the approval of local governments. These events should continue to follow safe practices and CDC recommendations, including physical distancing.

Bars have already been allowed to

● operate as “dine-in” at full capacity. They will now be allowed to resume regular operations, with the ability to require social distancing and masks.

Despite issuing the order rescinding restrictions, Ducey urged Arizonans in a tweet to continue following state and CDC guidelines. Those practices include wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, frequently washing hands, staying home if sick and getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

What does this mean for concerts and clubs?

So what does this mean for concerts moving forward?

Charlie Levy said the governor’s order doesn’t affect plans for his venues, Crescent Ballroom or Valley Bar.

“The way the executive order reads, it says business guidelines transition from requirements to health recommendations,” he said.

“So we’re gonna choose following the recommendations of the health experts in the CDC and the state of Arizona. We want to make sure everyone that comes to Crescent and Valley Bar is safe and everyone working is safe.”

Tempe’s Marquee Theatre was already planning to return to active duty on April 1 with socially distanced dinein concerts and outdoor events in the Marquee Backyard, a new socially distanced concert space outside the venue.

In announcing its return, the Marquee said all events would follow Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines for events and mass gatherings.

The Celebrity Theatre was also planning to return to outdoor concerts in its parking lot in April, with a local country jam, Chicago rapper Lil Durk and a tribute to Bread called Toast.

Andrew Birgensmith at the Celebrity said the governor’s announcement will not change the venue’s plans to hold off on presenting indoor concerts for now.

“Even with the new information, we’re not planning on reopening indoors until around September, when we can open at full capacity,” Birgensmith said.

He said that what it does change is the level of confidence the Celebrity has about ramping its parking lot concerts back up. “The Lil Durk concert is nearly sold out at 3,000 seats,” he said.

“So we weren’t sure how the city was going to view that. Now, we feel a lot better about having 3,000 people in our parking lot and not getting busted for it. So parking Lot concerts, it just gives us a little breathing room.”

The venue has also been thinking about reopening its indoor club for smaller shows with local bands.

“So for those business areas, the club and the parking lot, it does change things,” Birgensmith said, “But for indoor concerts, it really doesn’t.”

Relentless Beats, the Valley’s largest EDM promoter, issued a statement saying that the safety protocols it put in place in 2020 will remain in place until further notice.

“In light of Governor Ducey’s recent announcement, which underscored Arizona’s remarkable feat reaching 3 million vaccinations and the easing of certain safety restrictions,” the statement read, “Relentless Beats remains vigil in our stance to put the safety of our fans, artists, and staff first.”

They look forward to taking steps toward “fully flowing, pod-free events in the near future,” the statement continued, adding that they may adjust certain aspects of the precautions they’ve been taking at some point, “but we will not modify our pledge to everyone’s safety.”

Here’s how the order could impact touring acts

Ralph Marchetta, the general manager at Phoenix Suns Arena, doesn’t expect the announcement to have much impact on large-scale concerts returning to Phoenix soon.

“The challenging part will be what the rest of the country does,” he said.

“For an artist to route a tour, if you’ve still got a large number of states or municipalities that are shuttered, it just becomes more difficult. So I don’t think in the short term, it’s going to change a whole lot.”

Marchetta added, “Obviously, it’s good news and a good sign.”

For now, the next show on the books at Phoenix Suns Arena is a rescheduled Grupo Firme date on Aug. 13.

“I’m hoping that by August, September, we’re back in the concert business,” Marchetta said. “And that’s my expectation. If it’s sooner, that’d be a bonus.”