GAZPROM ARENA SAYS KANYE WEST CONCERTS CANNOT TAKE PLACE

Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg has stated that two scheduled concerts by Kanye West, now known as Ye, "cannot take place" at the venue. The shows were planned for 10 and 11 October at the 70,000-capacity stadium and sold out within hours of announcement. Gazprom Arena said in a statement that no rental agreement had been signed with concert promoters and that the venue was not the organiser of the event. The arena also acknowledged complaints received about the booking.

Moscow-based promoter Say Agency, which organised the concerts, said the announcement came as a surprise and that it learned of Gazprom Arena's statement at the same time as the public. Say Agency stated that it had booked the shows based on an official letter approved by Gazprom Arena, although a rental contract had not yet been signed. The promoter said it was attempting to contact the venue to resolve the matter. Ticket prices ranged from 9,000 roubles (£78) to 160,000 roubles (£1,394).

Say Agency stated that as of the time of its response, "the Ye concert has not been cancelled", suggesting the shows may be relocated. The planned performances would have made Ye one of the first major Western artists to perform in Russia since the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The concerts follow Ye's tour dates in California, the Netherlands and Turkey, and come amid prior controversy in other countries, where several nations cited public safety concerns when declining to host his performances.