Big E ‘highly likely’ to close Arena concert venue this year; Eastern States submits coronavirus action plan to West Springfield, state ahead of Monday meetings
While still planning to host a 2020 fair, The Big E is ‘highly likely’ to close its Arena, a large outdoor theater venue with paid concerts, this year out of coronavirus concerns. And Eugene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition said Thursday he’s already decided to close the dormitories where young people bunk overnight while exhibiting at the fair. The Big E also cancelled the daily 5 p.m. community parade and is also going to have fewer vendors to open space for social distancing, Cassidy said. The Mardi Gras Parade, held later in the evening when the fairgrounds is less busy, would go on according to this plan.