Shillong, Jan 21: Ideally, a large open air venue like the JN Stadium in Shillong could be used for multiple purposes – sports events and, say, music concerts. However, concerns have been raised by an unmissable, large patch of damaged turf dominating a section of the pitch.
While some have claimed that it was the Bryan Adams concert in December that led to the damage (despite the use of turf protectors on the surface), Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling said that there was a more recent problem with the underground sprinkler system that caused a build-up of water in that particular area.
An overhead drone shot of the pitch (see below) shared by the state government immediately after the concert does not show this particular patch, though there do appear to be yellowish or flattened out areas of the grass.
Nevertheless, the overall state of the pitch at the JN Stadium really is quite spectacular and held up well during last year’s Durand Cup.
An inspection of the stadium was held yesterday to ascertain its readiness to host an AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier between India and Bangladesh in March, which would follow an international friendly. Three Indian Super League matches are also meant to be held there in February-March but falling in between the first two ISL games is supposed to be another huge concert.
AFC Match Commissioner Mindu Dorjee gave an overall thumbs-up to the stadium and did not seem too disturbed by the damaged patch, though he obviously wanted it fixed ahead of the match in March. To TSR’s inexpert eye the Bermuda grass has been killed off on this patch and wild local grass has sprung up in its place. If the Bermuda grass can’t be grown back, that section might have to be cut out and replaced with a new patch.
There is much less time in between the ISL matches and the concert – NorthEast United FC’s first fixture here is on 7th February and the concert is on 12th February. The next NEUFC game is on 21st February.
The timescale is tight and everything will have to go smoothly if Shillong is to pull this off. Fingers crossed.