NEW YORK—After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the Governors Ball Music Festival returned for 2021 with some new and improved digs.
In 2011, the New York City fest made its debut on Governors Island (hence the name). It then moved to Randall's Island Park in 2012, where it stayed through 2019. For its 10-year anniversary, the three-day music festival, which took place Sept. 24-26, migrated farther east to the parking lot of Citi Field in Queens.
Organizers explained that the new location was more accessible via public transportation for most attendees. Plus, the asphalt of the parking lot, which was covered with astroturf, meant no more muddy puddles, if it rained (although weather wasn’t an issue this year).
Produced by Founders Entertainment, this year’s festival also featured a new look with four stages in a 360-degree layout, allowing fans to easily move from one stage to the next. The lineup included headliners Post Malone, Billie Eilish and A$AP Rocky, with 60,000 fans attending each day. Festivalgoers were required to be fully vaccinated. For patrons who were not, a negative COVID-19 test result had to be obtained within 72 hours of each day they attended the festival.
Returning sponsors such as OGX and Bud Light welcomed music fans to the new venue with their beloved activations, while some newer brands like Grubhub made their presence known with fresh experiences.
Keep reading to see how brands attracted festivalgoers at this year’s Governors Ball.