IU (Edam Leisure)
From Madison Sq. Backyard in New York to Wembley Stadium in London, the largest sports activities arenas and stadiums in main cities usually double as live performance venues. However holding live shows at Seoul World Cup Stadium is being challenged by some soccer followers complaining that nonsports occasions there have essential detrimental results on the sector.
A self-proclaimed fan of Son Heung-min on Sept. 11 posted a petition on the state-run e-Individuals web site, calling for the cancellation of the Ok-pop celebrity IU’s live performance slated for Sept. 21-22 in Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, Seoul.
The petitioner claimed that the massive crowd anticipated for the live performance — which offered out 100,000 tickets inside minutes — will injury the grass of the stadium that will probably be used for the qualifying matches of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
After taking part in Palestine on its house subject on Sept. 5, South Korea will host the remainder of its Group B opponents within the qualifiers slated till subsequent yr. However there have been a number of complaints from gamers, followers and even opposing groups concerning the poor situations of the grass.
“A 3rd-round qualifying match between South Korea and Iraq is slated in Sangam on Oct. 15, and (the authorities) ought to attempt their finest to handle the grass there for the rest of (the World Cup qualifiers) interval,” the petitioner wrote.
The particular person cited Seoul Metropolitan Authorities’s Ordinance on the Set up and Operation of Seoul Sports activities Services, which in Article 5-3 states that the mayor could bar and even cancel use of a sports activities facility in the event that they deem an occasion as probably inflicting a hindrance to the administration of the power in query.
Grass greener on different facet
The controversy began when nationwide crew captain Son– who led his crew’s 3-1 highway win over Oman with a go-ahead objective within the second half — complained concerning the grass within the Seoul World Cup Stadium. He stated the Sultan Qaboos Sports activities Advanced’s subject being in good situation allowed him to play with extra confidence, including that he needs such good administration might be utilized to Korea’s house fields as properly.
After his crew led to a goalless draw in opposition to Palestine in Seoul, he claimed the grass had made issues tough for him to regulate the ball.
The allegedly questionable grass situations on the Seoul World Cup Stadium have lengthy been a difficulty right here. Former nationwide crew participant Ki Sung-yueng in 2017 jokingly stated that he was not apprehensive a few highway match in China, as a result of the grass there “couldn’t probably be worse than in Seoul.”
Son Heung-min (heart) of South Korea dribbles the ball previous the Oman defenders through the World Cup qualification match on the Sultan Qaboos Sports activities Advanced in Muscat on Sept. 10. (Yonhap)
In gentle of the considerations over grass, Seoul Services Company in October 2021 put in new turf comprised of 95 p.c pure and 5 p.c artificial grass. Fewer occasions had been held on the stadium since then in comparison with earlier than, with the venue being concert-free for a full yr because the new subject was put in.
However between the continued reworking of the Seoul Olympic Foremost Stadium in Jamsil, southern Seoul and the Gocheok Sky Dome being occupied for the skilled baseball league season, the World Cup Stadium has change into nearly the one venue in Seoul to carry mega-sized live shows. The live shows of band Seventeen and singer Lim Younger-woong had been held within the stadium, every in April and Could of this yr, previous to the upcoming IU live performance.
Operators of the Seoul World Cup Stadium instructed the native media that warnings concerning the grass are notified to whoever rents the stadium, and people who hire it are mandated to revive any damages to the sector. Grass entry can be restricted to the minimal variety of personnel required to put in the stage and conduct the occasions, they added.
The performers themselves additionally make efforts to attenuate injury to the grass, corresponding to Lim not putting in seats on the sector. IU’s company additionally vowed to observe the insurance policies by defending the grass, disassembling the stage as quickly because the live performance ends, whereas protecting the grass hydrated and well-ventilated through the occasion.
With considerations over the grass situations in Sangam, the Korea Soccer Affiliation is mulling whether or not to pick a distinct venue for upcoming house matches. The officers, nonetheless, stated participant comfort ought to be thought-about in any potential change of venue, and vowed to provide you with an answer as quickly as doable earlier than the following match in October.
South Korea is presently taking part in to earn one among two direct World Cup berths allotted for the Group B groups within the third spherical of the Asian Qualifiers. The crew will face off in opposition to Iraq on Oct. 15 at house on the as but undecided subject.
If the nation fails to complete within the prime two of its group, it’ll compete within the fourth spherical for a spot within the inter-confederation playoffs.
