bad bunny two sold-out performances of the P FKN R” concert at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in 2021. Carol G Most recently he hosted three shows of the “Strip Love Tour”. Papa Yankee canceled three sold-out dates to perform there last January. Rauw Alejandro will debut in this space next week with “Saturno” and Romeo Santos For his “Formula Volume 3” he has already sold out two in May.
These artists, mostly from the urban genre, aren’t the only ones presenting their concerts at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. They used to Prophetic resident culture Ricky Martin, Olga Tanon and Menudo, and even before that it was the stage for the presentations of Anglo-Saxon rock groups. But we must not overlook the fact that the “Bad Rabbit” on this stage – after the obligatory break due to the pandemic – has broken the ice again and that many of his colleagues in the urban music genre are suddenly also preferring him for their concerts at the moment.
Is it a trend or a competition who gets the most roles?
Aileen Piñeiro, director of Empresas Municipales de San Juan, and producer Francisco “Paco” López agree that the creator of “Un verano sin ti” has piqued the interest of reggaeton artists and derivative rhythms to perform there, which is in the Essentially the home of Los Cangrejeros de Santurce and is RA12 in the Winter Baseball League.
“I don’t see it as some kind of competition, who sells more stadiums, but after Bad Bunny did it, Karol (G), Rauw (Alejandro) jumped in and that precedent was set that everyone now wants to build stadiums for, but for me, the Choliseo is still a very important venue in Puerto Rico” explained the president of No Limit Entertainment.
Karol G presented three performances of his “Strip Love Tour” at the Hiram Bithorn. (Stephanie Rojas)The challenge of Hiram Bithorn Stadium is that a platform must be built on a pitch that is all grass, and that includes the audiovisual elements required for events such as those hosted by these renowned artists. Add to this the weather conditions ranging from wind factor to rain. This results in a doubling or even tripling of production costs.
“There’s a thousand things that make it a super-large production logistically, it’s a very complex production, a lot more expensive, a lot more risky and there’s not a lot of money. Here is more greatness for the artist that he presented in a stadium. It’s not very lucrative for us producers.”Lopez pointed this out.
The reason or reasons that make the stadium a trendy spot for music shows can be many, with the capacity of up to 30,000 people being one of the biggest draws alongside its location in the greater San Juan area.
“It is a comfortable, accessible place, with accessible parking for people, and I understand that for this reason it is once again in one of the privileged places to hold major events,” said Piñeiro, who intervenes with the producers in the contracting process for the installation .
Residente presented his first concert as a soloist at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in 2018. (AP)López, who has already started assembling for Rauw Alejandro at the stadium, sees it as more logistically practical. “These big artists that are performing there, they’re building stadiums in the United States, so they’re often looking for that. Instead of running multiple functions with reduced capacity, they prefer to run fewer functions with more capacity, and that’s better for them. Maybe instead of six choliseos, they do two Hiram Bithorn, and it’s the same capacity and they don’t have to do twice as many shows.”
How does it affect the Coliseo de Puerto Rico?
Jorge Pérez, Regional Manager of ASM Global (company that manages the properties of the Puerto Rico Convention District Authority), is optimistic about this trend of urban genre concerts at Hiram Bithorn Stadium and is aware that it strengthens the island’s position as a important location for the entertainment industry and keeps the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, the Coca-Cola Music Hall, the Convention Center and the Old Casino in competition.
“I find it fascinating and very positive and it shows that the entertainment industry in Puerto Rico is solid”, the executive emphasized by phone. “As an entertainment destination, it’s extremely positive for us to be able to offer a large inventory of spaces including stadiums, open-air parks, theaters, amphitheatres, coliseums and performance halls ranging from the largest to the smallest capacity to continue to support us.” target to position as entertainment.
The series of reggaeton concerts at the stadium has not ruled out this type of event at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico – Arcángel recently performed with a series of seven concerts – nor has it narrowed the agenda of this arena, which is now committed to the diversity of musical styles .
“We operate in an industry that is changing and dynamic, and we at ASM Global want to change and be dynamic as well, so we see an entertainment industry that is looking for different experiences. I think it’s very positive because at the end of the day the producers will decide what’s most profitable, the fan will decide where he feels most comfortable and comfortable, and that will have a positive impact on the whole industry.” , said Pérez, to continue to anticipate that as the Coliseo de Puerto Rico celebrates its 20th anniversary, it will begin to renovate some areas to improve the visitor experience.
Construction in the stadium for Rauw Alejandro’s Saturno has already begun. (instagram)For her part, López mentioned that due to the demands of the assembly, there are still concert tours and events that are impossible for them on local stages. As an example, he said that the famous British band Coldplay performed “The Music of the Spheres” in the Dominican Republic at the Olympic Stadium last year and this show could not come here. “He didn’t come to Puerto Rico because we don’t have a football stadium. It was a Coldplay tour that took place in football stadiums with a capacity of more than 50,000 people,” he said.
The stadium closes in July
Any producer or artist considering featuring Hiram Bithorn Stadium there must do so before July 1, when that stadium closes for improvements that could stretch for a year.
“The Hiram Bithorn will begin a full repair process in July. We’re going to make some improvements to the field as the main goal is sport, but we’re trying to make sure that this new design can allow the use of both things, that events can be held with the guarantee of keeping that pitch ready.” Piñeiro pointed out for the community of San Juan.
What we want is that what is being built now, this ground and others, can be like the nation’s other stadiums, in the sense that high profile sporting events and events of this nature (musically) can take place without the terrain degrading will, so that both can coexist”
-Aileen Piñeiro, Director of Municipal Businesses of San Juan
The base rent for the stadium is US$8,000, plus US$6,500 for use of canteens and so on, further charges for each additional service or space used. The municipality has an additional economic benefit for each ticket purchased.
Will a concert be announced at the stadium?
“We don’t have a contract, but we have the approach of Anuel AA. They still haven’t given us the date,” said the director of the San Juan Municipal Companies.
Producer Paco López also commented, “I have an artist that is tentative but not confirmed.”