BTS Approved for Three Concerts at Chile’s Estadio Nacional in October

After weeks of uncertainty and public pressure, the government confirmed on a Tuesday that the K-Pop group’s highly anticipated shows will proceed.

Technical Modifications and Turf Protection

The authorization was contingent upon significant engineering changes submitted by DG Medios to address observations formulated by the Ministry of Sport and the IND. According to the Ministry of Sport, these adjustments are designed to minimize the physical impact on the stadium’s field. The production team incorporated a new plan that includes a specific distribution of assembly loads, a detailed schedule for stage construction and dismantling, and a recovery plan for the pitch once the shows conclude.

“El montaje del escenario 360° evita la circulación de maquinaria pesada por el pasto y las maniobras de producción se realizarán mediante grúas operadas desde la pista atlética. Asimismo, se utilizará una cubierta que permitiría mantener la ventilación y respiración del césped con la incorporación de tecnologías y métodos de protección.”

Ministry of Sport

The ministry noted that the revised strategy includes a study of engineering that supports the technical feasibility of the proposed measures. These changes are expected to reduce the time required for the turf to recover compared to the initial request, a key factor in the government’s goal of balancing cultural events with the stadium’s primary role as a venue for sports.

Delays Caused by Weather and Documentation

The path to approval was not straightforward. The Undersecretary of Sport, Andrés Otero, explained that the evaluation process faced two major hurdles: the late submission of technical documentation and a severe weather emergency. Otero noted that while the IND requested technical reports at the beginning of July, the required documents from DG Medios were not entered into the system until the following week, which postponed the analysis conducted by the Ministry of Sport and the IND.

Following the initial delay, the government shifted its immediate focus to responding to a massive storm system affecting the country’s central and southern regions. This emergency forced a temporary pause in the review of the concert logistics. Otero emphasized that the ministry views these events as a complex balancing act, stating, Para nosotros como Ministerio del Deporte es un desafío poder hacer coexistir la actividad deportiva, que es muy importante, con la cultura.

Public Pressure and Stakeholder Coordination

The stakes were high for fans and stakeholders alike, as the concerts had been announced in March and near 200 thousand tickets were sold out by the beginning of April. This delay motivated fans of BTS to carry out demonstrations to demand a solution. The government’s final decision now triggers a coordination phase with several key athletic organizations to ensure the stadium remains viable for its core purpose:

• Club Universidad de Chile
• Federación de Fútbol de Chile
• ANFP
• Club Atlético Santiago

The ministry, currently led by Natalia Duco, confirmed that the measures have been communicated to these entities to coordinate the development of both sporting and cultural activities in the stadium. While the uncertainty has concluded, the government emphasized that the approval was strictly based on the technical merits of the updated proposal submitted by the producer.

Sources: Elmostrador, Uchile.