The former Kazakh capital, Almaty, takes the prospect of hosting global superstars in its arenas very seriously. During a recent Public Council session, the City Administration discussed whether they are ready to accommodate Eminem and Shakita on the tour.
High Demand
Last autumn, news from Kazakhstan already mentioned Eminem as the most requested male artist to be invited to the country, with a note that there might not be suitable arenas for him to perform. “With Eminem, it’s a little complicated because we don’t have the infrastructure to handle the scale of his concert. We would need a venue for more than 60,000 people”, said a local producer back in November. “We don’t have such a venue in Kazakhstan. It could be done on a city square, but that brings its own risks”.
Interestingly, the concert agency was already in talks with another much-requested performer, Shakira. Apparently, hosting her show wouldn’t pose as many challenges, so it became a viable possibility. Put a pin on it for now.
Possibility of supply
So, now, almost half a year later, a story broke out in the Kazakh press about an unusual topic on the Public Council session agenda. The administration had addressed the viral rumours regarding potential concerts by Eminem and Shakira and heard from the Directorate of Sports Facilities that they are exploring the possibility of hosting both artists in Almaty as part of their respective international tours.
Reports emphasise that city officials insist this discussion is preliminary. Although what is preliminary in this particular situation? Authorities note that the official confirmation will not come before all negotiations and logistical arrangements reach a conclusion. At this stage, there is no agreement on either dates or venues.
High hopes
Unsurprisingly, the city administration does not want to talk until the papers are signed. However, the fact that the topic came to attention at this level clearly shows that it is not just rumours or the ambitious plans of one agency. And given that Shakira’s show has been in the talks for many months, we can assume her case is moving forward. Seeing Eminem included in the same conversation might give more hope to the Kazakh people. And probably, by extension, to the rest of us.
Obviously, the chance that Eminem goes straight to Almaty for one show is nonexistent. It can only happen if Marshall finally hits the road for the global tour. And this is what every Shady fan hopes for.