KUALA LUMPUR — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) have assured the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) that no concerts will be held at the National Hockey Stadium leading up to the FIH Nations Cup, scheduled from June 15 to 21.
It was reported that the ministry and PSM received a total of 26 concert bookings this year. The bookings were made mainly for the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil National Stadium, and the Axiata Arena.
However, the details of the concert bookings remain unknown.
Among the concerts held at the hockey stadium this year were performances by famous bands such as Maroon 5 (February 12) and Green Day (February 18).
Speaking to Scoop, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal revealed that the decision to not host concerts leading up to the Nations Cup was made collectively by all stakeholders to preserve the quality of the turf during the tournament.
“We were given assurance by the ministry and PSM. While we understand that the stadium has recently become a hub for several concerts, we are grateful for the understanding of our stakeholders in this matter.
“Since we will be hosting the Nations Cup, we need to protect the quality of the turf and ensure that it is properly maintained.
“We are grateful to PSM for allowing us to use the facility for this tournament.
“We are also pleased that both KBS and PSM are playing a crucial role in advocating and exposing the sport to a wider audience.
“With the support of our stakeholders and our experience in hosting several prestigious tournaments at the stadium over the years, we are committed to ensuring the success of this year’s Nations Cup,” said Subahan when contacted.
The Nations Cup will see head coach Sarjit Singh’s team aiming for a top-four finish—a target set by MHC.
Malaysia, ranked 13th in the world, will be grouped with France, South Korea, and Wales.
In the previous edition of the Nations Cup, which serves as a qualifier for the prestigious FIH Pro League, Malaysia finished seventh out of nine teams.
Meanwhile, Subahan also said that efforts are underway by KBS, in collaboration with PSM, to upgrade some of the existing facilities at the stadium.
“KBS has agreed to invest in upgrading certain facilities at the stadium, such as the players’ dressing rooms. This will help project a positive image of our country among the teams competing in the tournament this year,” he said.
It was reported that Kuala Lumpur Sports City had recorded a venue rental collection of RM10.647 million in 2024, which was the highest ever recorded.
For non-sport events, the national stadium recorded a rental revenue of RM1.8 million, Axiata Arena recorded RM6.4 million, and the hockey stadium recorded RM210,000 in revenue. — March 10, 2025