The unusable lawn of the National Arena in the Romanian capital Bucharest has been replaced at a cost of EUR 240,000 ($265,000), Mayor Gabriela Firea announced on Thursday.
The lawn was rendered unusable during an August 14 concert there of U.S. heavy metal band Metallica, setting a national record of over 50,000 tickets sold. Romanian fans of the band would been frenzied by the mere presence of the band, but the band also came prepared with an even bigger surprise: they played a song by long-lived and popular Romanian rock band Iris.
Band member Cristian “Cristi” Minculescu even posted a live video of his band’s song performed by Metallica.
Metallica playing “De vei pleca” by Iris (source: Cristi Minculescu’s Facebook page)
Firea said that while the National Arena was primarily a sports venue, it was normal for it to also host other events when these don’t interfere with sports events. She added that after a public tender, the municipality of the capital has signed a four-year framework contract with a company that will replace the lawn every time the need arises.
The National Arena, opened in 2011, has the highest, category four rating by UEFA and is the country’s largest stadium with a capacity of 55,634.
The next match of the national team is scheduled for September 5 when the team will meet Spain in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Title image: Bucharest mayor Gabriela Firea on the brand new lawn of the National Arena (source: Mediafax/Andreea Alexandru)
