“We have a big problem,” said Damman. “Then I’m not talking about the fans. But also about the enormous amount of flex staff that we use and who are now unable to reach the Ziggo Dome.” The Ziggo Dome has already held intensive consultations with the NS in recent weeks, but in vain. “I don’t understand why the NS makes this choice and puts concert and football fans at a disadvantage. We do not understand why the NS chooses to dupe so many people because of Formula 1.”
The Ziggo Dome concert permit states, among other things, that the hall is obliged to encourage the use of public transport. “We do this because we are convinced that it is good to travel to our concerts by public transport. It is unheard of that the NS now leaves us out in the cold.”
busy
The NS advises people who want to travel to or from the ArenA area in Amsterdam on 3 September between 14.15 and 20.30 not to take the train, but to choose an alternative means of transport. The NS expects great crowds because Ajax will play against SC Cambuur that day in the Johan Cruijff ArenA and because of the sold-out Kensington concerts in the Ziggo Dome. In addition, the English singer Yade Lauren is in AFAS Live and the NS transports fans of the Formula 1 race at Zandvoort.
“Just as the football match ends, the trains around the ArenA area are full of F1 fans on their way home,” the NS reports. The transport company is not able to run extra trains or make those extra stops.
It also proved impossible to move the Ajax – SC Cambuur match to another day, another place or another time. As a result, the NS has announced that it cannot guarantee the safety of travelers at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA station. That is why no more trains will stop at the stations Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, Holendrecht and part of Duivendrecht from approximately 2.15 pm. Train service from these stations will resume from 8.30pm. The area will remain accessible by metro.
Good jobs
Ziggo Dome will try to manage the situation in the right direction, together with AFAS Live and the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “We are going to try to inform everyone as best as possible about the situation, that is all we can do. But you can count on your fingers that this will lead to big, big problems if all the people who would come by train now take the car,” says Damman.
A spokesman for Kensington itself says he has no opinion about the decision of the NS.