Clarendon’s Sandell Drive-In is just one of only 300 drive-ins across North America that will host a Garth Brooks concert event on June 27 that will be streamed onto the big screen.
The concert will be created exclusively for this event, making this a once in a lifetime experience, and will be the largest ever one-night show to play at outdoor theaters across the United States and Canada.
Sandell owner John Morrow is busy this week working to increase the drive-in’s capacity from 300 vehicles to more than 500 in anticipation of an enormous crowd.
“Because of COVID-19, this is all happening,” Morrow said, referring to social distancing guidelines and restrictions on seating capacities in stadiums and auditoriums. “More events will be coming this summer, including video events like this as well as future live concerts.”
Morrow said the Sandell will not have a movie this weekend as work continues to get ready for the June 27 event, which he says could draw as many as 2,800 to 3,000 people. Such a turnout would be a huge influx of people for the local economy and would blow away any previous attendance record at the drive-in. Morrow said the biggest crowd he’s had since he reopened the Sandell in 2002 was 415 people. Previous owner
Gary Barnhill may have had a bigger crowd than that sometime between 1955 and 1984, but still the vehicle capacity was limited to 300.
The Garth Brooks concert video event will be produced by Encore Live, a leading event production company.
“I am so excited to get to play again. I have missed it so much and want to get back to it,” said Brooks. “This drive-in concert allows us all to get back to playing live music without the uncertainty of what would be the result to us as a community. This is old school, new school, and perfect for the time we are in.”
“Families need safe entertainment options that they can enjoy together this summer,” said Encore Live Founder and CEO Walter Kinzie. “We’re excited to partner with Garth, who’s already done so much to help the entertainment industry during these tough times, to provide a truly unique and incredible concert that will do a whole lot of good for local businesses and communities.”
Tickets will be on sale Friday, June 19, at 11 a.m. central time at Ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks. There, you will also be able to review the drive-in theaters available in your area. The tickets are general admission and of limited availability. Each ticket will cost $100 and will admit one passenger car or truck, and Morrow says you can have as many people in your vehicle as you have seat belts for.
“If you have seven people in a Suburban, that amounts to just over $14 per person,” Morrow said.
The event will take place rain or shine and will begin at dusk.
Morrow said in addition to the Sandell’s famous concession stand, he will have at least two food trucks on hand to help serve the crowd.
Clarendon residents will also want to pay careful attention to the Brooks video because the Sandell is reported to play a role in it.
Morrow said participating drive-ins were invited to submit video clips to the producers and said a clip from the Sandell’s fire-blowing “Miss Fritter” school bus made the cut and impressed Brooks himself so much that he sent a personal message to Morrow, thanking him for his efforts and telling him, “You are the man!”
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