Today, Jackson Hole News & Guide broke the news that the Board of Teton County Commissioners have unanimously approved a permit that would allow Dead & Company to host a two-day festival at Jackson Hole Hereford Ranch in the summer during a special meeting called for the application’s review. Late last month, James Deighan, owner of Highline Sports and Entertainment, filed the approved application for the permit for the two-day concert that would take place in South Park, WY, on August 18th and 19th. In his application, Deighan estimated that 15,000 – 20,000 people would attend.
However, as noted by Jackson Hole News & Guide, while the permit was approved, the commissioners green-lighted the festival only with the caveat that Highline Sports and Entertainment submit a detailed security and traffic plan by April 1st as well other mitigation plans by May 1st. Other conditions for the festival’s approval included that the county staff’s daily workload would not be “unduly impacted by planning for the event.” The board also noted that, rather than the proposed end time of 10 p.m. each night, they were interested in the music ending at 9 p.m., and that they’d like to make sure that locals have prioritized access to tickets.
However, while the Dead & Company festival has secured the necessary permits from the county, this does not mean that the concert is guaranteed to happen. At the initial hearing, Deighan noted, “The only caveat is we are up against a little bit of time…to properly plan this event and execute it in the proper fashion that not only the town deserves but the event itself as well.” Today, Deighan explained to Jackson Hole News & Guide ahead of the county’s special meeting to approve the permit, “If in fact we do move forward today as a group, that doesn’t mean we’re hitting the go button.”