Chappelle's show to go on while Seattle won't allow people to watch New Year's fireworks outdoors

COVID hypocrisy is alive and well in the Emerald City for New Year’s Eve. Venues attempting to comply with onerous city, county and state mandates are left having to explain glaring inconsistencies in policies.  

Comedian Dave Chappelle will be performing a New Year’s Eve show indoors at Seattle’s brand-new Climate Pledge Arena in front of an expected capacity crowd of over 17,000.

The same night, the Seattle Space Needle will be hosting the return of their annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show, however, "No crowds permitted at Seattle Center," which is outdoors.

"Viewers are encouraged to watch at home or at viewing parties to experience the made-for-TV special effects layered on top of live fireworks display."

So people are discouraged from going to an outdoor event where Covid is less likely to spread, and encouraged to gather together in personal homes where Covid infection spreads the easiest. Got it.

This despite the fact that the two venues are on the same campus at the Seattle Center a mere 528 yards away from each other.

Both venues require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter.

The Seattle Center was originally opened as part of the World’s Fair in 1962 where the Space Needle was the main attraction. The stadium underwent several renovations including the almost complete tear down, rebuild and rebrand from 2018-2020.

According to a press release, "T-Mobile New Year’s at the Needle will see the return of fireworks this year… but not in person. The Space Needle has partnered with multimedia studios and talented digital artists to create the first-ever live fireworks show to be augmented and broadcast live with exclusive special effects that can only be seen on a TV, computer, or mobile phone."

"To keep the community safe, event organizers and public officials encourage everyone to “stream in the new year” from home or at watch parties without gathering or creating crowds around the Seattle landmark, in support of public health guidance."

However, thousands of people will be streaming through the campus to and from the stadium. Before and after events at the arena, crowds gather in the nearby Seattle Armory to board the monorail in order to link to mass transit.

No plan has been announced regarding how local officials plan to keep fireworks spectators out of the open grounds of the Seattle Center while allowing Dave Chappelle and Friends show attendees free access to the area.

Though the interior of the Space Needle will be devoid of its usual New Year’s Eve party and other events in the area, organizers announced that, "Queen Anne Beerhall will serve as the official viewing party for T-Mobile New Year’s at the Needle. With no public events at Seattle Center or atop the Space Needle, the venue will show the first-ever live augmented fireworks show on its big screens."

Organizers also listed smaller venues for "...neighborhood watch parties at other local establishments…"

Rooftops around the city will also be packed with crowds to view the display.

The Space Needle and Climate Pledge Arena have both been open to the public for months and yet no outbreaks have been traced to either location.

Organizers of many annual festivals in the Greater Seattle area in 2020 designed their events to comply with local COVID restrictions and were still denied permits for the events.

Karen Olson, chief operating officer of the Space Needle told The Ari Hoffman Show on 570 KVI, "...we needed a special events permit to have a fireworks show. So it involves, the Mayor's office, transportation, fire, police, department of neighborhoods, tt's a whole group of people that review events that impact the city...to approve a permit or not."

"Last year our permit was denied. It was just too much in the height of the pandemic."

On November 15, Democrat Washington Governor Jay Inslee's order went into effect which mandated that organizers  of a "large event" prohibit "...anyone 12 years and older from attending the event unless the individual either shows proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or shows proof of having received a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of the event."

The Space Needle is a privately owned business on the Seattle Center campus. Olson told Hoffman, "...we're just this little itty-bitty tall thing on the corner of the Seattle Center. But the Seattle Center is a huge open park. It's 74 acres and there's no way to close off the Seattle Center and check the vaccination status and for folks coming in and out. And so our permit wasn't initially approved."

Olson added that the fireworks organizers went through several rounds of "...conversations, discussions, bringing in all kinds of folks. And they're able to say that they'll approve the permit for us of live."

"We did this because people want real fireworks. They want a real light show... it's been two years and we didn't cause COVID... we definitely want live fireworks."

The show has been augment with special effects that can only be seen on TV, streaming or at a watch party to encourage people to watch from home. This despite the over 17,000 people in the arena which officials are allowing the same night right nearby to see Chappelle.

Fireworks organizers received permission to go ahead with the event in November, leaving little time to plan and execute the event.

Olson said, "...we want to bring back a way to say 'it's the end of the last year and even two years.'"

"All the music acts are really cool, optimistic, hopeful. Two of them wrote songs during the pandemic all about next year is going to be better than this year. It's really uplifting. It's a heartfelt tribute to our city. We got through a lot, we're getting through a lot."

Olson did give credit to the people who screened the permit and told Hoffman, "The easiest thing would have been to do what they did last year, to say 'no' and they didn't do that. They worked with us (and said) 'how can we all partner together? A really cool safe show that includes live fireworks and a light show, but that people can watch safely either from home or kind of in different areas."

"We all want it. We all want the show to happen."

Hoffman jested at the end of the interview that people leaving the Chappelle show can look up to see the fireworks while still inside Seattle Center while walking to their transportation home.