Variety: MTV considering staging VMAs--circumstances unclear--on Aug. 30 at Barclays Center

Variety yesterday published an exclusive, MTV Video Music Awards Exploring August Live Show From Brooklyn’s Barclays Center

“We’re exploring with government officials, the medical community and key stakeholders on how to safely hold the 2020 VMAs at Barclays Center on August 30th,” an MTV spokesperson tells Variety. “The health of everyone involved is our number one priority. Additionally, we are working on several contingency plans to bring music’s biggest night to audiences everywhere.”

Note that VMAs typically move around among venues, and were notably held once before at the Barclays Center, in 2013, gaining buzz while impinging seriously on the neighborhood.

From Variety:

While a traditional physical production is the goal, according to one source familiar with the plans, the network is keeping safety top of mind and exploring virtual performances and an audience-free show, among other contingency plans.

Ya think? New York City is the nation's coronavirus epicenter, so a venue in any other city would offer advantages, though it's possible that MTA is counting on New York-based entertainers and personnel. And maybe they'd be getting a sweet deal from an arena that's been mothballed?

It will be hard to move a lot of people in and around, so what would the arena be--just a backdrop?

Billboard followed up with MTV Considering Holding the VMAs Live, essentially reprising the MTV statement.