Why the $1.1 Trillion Live Events Industry Is Pivoting to Vaccine Logistics

An army of event planners have discovered a newfound sense of purpose — and much-needed work

Jon Marcus
Marker

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Illustration by Taylor Le for Marker

A line of people snakes through the club lounge at Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots play. They’re not here for a game, though; the stadium has been converted into the biggest Covid-19 vaccination center in Massachusetts.

Look more closely and you’ll see logos showing that the site is being operated by a company called CIC, which usually manages co-working spaces. Another company, DMSE Sports, which normally directs running events including the Boston Marathon, is handling the logistics.

DMSE’s involvement makes sense, said founder Dave McGillivray, because the vaccination process “is like a race.” He gestures around the busy scene: “There’s the parking, there’s the course they go through, there’s the finish.” A clock normally used to show runners their pace is keeping time for people waiting to make sure they don’t have side effects.

Inside Gillette Stadium.

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Jon Marcus
Marker

Jon Marcus writes for The New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other U.S. and U.K. media outlets.