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Tengrinews.kz — Tomorrow, August 20, Almaty's Kairat will compete in the Europa League qualifying play-off round. Head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin commented on the condition of the pitch following the high-profile concert by American rapper Kanye West. Tengrinews visited the site to see how the turf looks now.
On the eve of the match, photos and videos surfaced on social media showing the turf at Central Stadium, which hosted the massive concert on Saturday. Many social media users noted that its condition leaves much to be desired.
"I haven't seen the pitch yet; our agronomist only showed me photos. He says, overall, it's more or less okay. It has yellowed slightly because of the high temperatures under the protective covering for seven days. It’s scorched in some spots, but overall it's acceptable," the Almaty coach said at a press conference.
In this decisive stage of the Europa League, Kairat will face Belgium's most decorated club, Anderlecht, for a spot in the tournament's group stage.
Stadium administration reserved in assessing pitch condition
After the first images of the field's condition post-Kanye West concert emerged, we sent an inquiry to the Almaty Directorate of Sports Facilities.
"As of August 19, restoration work on the football pitch at Central Stadium is ongoing following the concert event.
Stadium specialists are carrying out daily essential maintenance to restore the turf, including mowing, aeration, spiking, overseeding, and intensive watering. Work is being conducted around the clock ahead of the upcoming match on August 20," the directorate's response stated.
According to their data, specialists are continuing to prepare the field. A final assessment of the turf will be made immediately before the match.
What does the turf look like on the eve of the match?
Tengri Sport correspondents visited the stadium to assess the state of the grass.
Judging by what we saw, the football field is gradually being returned to its usual state. Markings have already been applied and the goals are installed. However, tracks from heavy machinery are still visible on the surface, and parts of the grass have turned yellow.
Public access to the stadium is currently restricted as work continues on the grounds.
Specialized machinery is operating near the running tracks. Workers are busy tidying the arena, dismantling temporary structures and fencing left over from the show.
The stadium is also regaining its footballing identity. Banners featuring portraits of Kairat players have already been placed in the stands and near the exits.
Kairat vs Anderlecht: Kick-off time
As a reminder, the Europa League match between Kairat and Anderlecht will take place at Central Stadium on August 20.
The game is scheduled to start at 20:00. The match will be broadcast live on QazSport.
The concert and Kairat's match
Kanye West's concert in Almaty was announced on July 17, but venue issues arose almost immediately. Central Stadium is the home arena for Kairat FC, and the team was still competing in European club competitions in August.
The club stated that the concert date had not been coordinated with them. Furthermore, Kairat officials were concerned that the assembly and dismantling of the massive stage could damage the pitch.
Due to the dispute, organizers even postponed the start of ticket sales by one day — from July 20 to July 21.
Ultimately, the stadium was handed over for Kanye's show. Kairat requested UEFA to relocate their potential home European match, and the game was approved to be held at the Turkestan Arena.
How Kanye West's Almaty concert unfolded
Initially, Kanye West's concert at Central Stadium was scheduled for August 14. However, on the day of the performance, Almaty first suffered a major blackout, and by evening the city was hit by strong winds, heavy rain, and a thunderstorm.
Despite the weather, spectators arrived at the stadium and waited for the show to begin. However, just minutes before the artist was expected to take the stage, organizers announced the concert would be postponed to the following day, August 15. The decision was cited as a safety precaution. Later, Kanye West himself confirmed the postponement on social media, attributing it to weather conditions.
On August 15, the concert finally took place at Central Stadium.
Kairat reaches decision on stadium following Kanye West concert
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