Jennifer is gone, millions of dollars in the air, and a disgraced stadium remains

The most sensational event of the past week for Uzbeks was the concert of world megastar Jennifer Lopez in Tashkent. The event, held on August 7 at Bunyodkor Stadium, was part of the singer’s world tour, “Up All Night: Live in 2025.” Jennifer Lopez said she had visited Tashkent before, performing in small, private gatherings, but this was her first large-scale performance in Uzbekistan. The audience enjoyed an elaborate stage show, popular hits, and professional choreography.

So, what was the cost of this show, for what purpose, and did it justify itself?

Jennifer Lopez’s world tour ran from July 8 to August 12 this year, covering 20 cities across 13 countries. Spain, Hungary, Italy, Turkey, the UAE, Poland, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan were among the stops.

According to the “Akhborot 24” program, 25,000 tickets were sold for the American megastar’s concert, with more than 15,000—about 67 percent—purchased by foreigners. By country, Russian citizens bought 7,500 tickets, and Kazakh citizens purchased over 2,500. The rest were bought by visitors from Europe and other regions.

The billboard indicated that ticket prices ranged from 1 million to 4.2 million soums. Foreign attendees reportedly bought 4–6-day tour packages for their trip to Uzbekistan.

Based on available data, the post-concert revenue for Uzbekistan can be roughly estimated. If the average ticket price was 2.57 million soums, the total value of tickets sold to the 25,000 attendees would be approximately 64.25 billion soums.

If each of the 15,000 foreign visitors spent 4–6 days in Uzbekistan, their expenditures could be significant. According to “Tourcentralasia,” a tourist in Uzbekistan spends on average 1.2–1.6 million soums per day. This means 15,000 foreigners could have spent around 144 billion soums over their stay. From ticket sales and possible tourist spending alone, the country may have benefited by at least 208 billion soums.

Now to expenses. Lopez reportedly charges around $2.5 million for her performances during the tour. Tashkent likely paid the same amount, unless a discount was granted.

Additionally, the living expenses for Lopez and her 90-member team for two days were considerable. For example, in Armenia, $37,000 was reportedly spent on Lopez’s meals for two days and $10,000 on hotel costs. Combined with her team’s expenses, the total reached $248,000. Given Uzbekistan’s tradition of hospitality, it is likely Lopez was treated no less generously.

If we use the highest estimates mentioned by official channels and convert them into U.S. dollars, the revenue would be around $16.4 million. After subtracting the $2.5 million artist fee, about $250,000 in living expenses, organizational costs, and $1 million for Bunyodkor Stadium (listed under separate expenses), around $11–12 million would remain.

These calculations are based on publicly available figures and simple arithmetic. No official body has confirmed the exact numbers.

Efforts to obtain official data from the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts—the initiator of Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Tashkent—were unsuccessful, as the foundation did not respond to calls.

Hosting a guest can be delightful, but the aftermath may not be. In Armenia, for example, the government organized an extravagant reception for Jennifer Lopez and her team. However, with the expenses covered by the state budget, public protests erupted, demanding accountability. The organizers are now facing criticism.

According to local media, Yerevan Deputy Mayor Armen Pambukchyan stated that the government allocated $7 million for the concert and that the costs were justified. However, many—including former Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan—argued the spending was unconstitutional and that those responsible should be held accountable.

Thus, it remains unclear how much money the Uzbek organizers spent on the event and how much profit they earned. If Uzbekistan spent as much as Armenia, the earlier estimate of $11–12 million in profit would shrink to around \$8–9 million.

The football match was moved from the pitch

On August 7, due to the concert of an American singer at Bunyodkor Stadium, the Uzbekistan Super League’s 17th-round match between Bunyodkor and Shurtan was relocated to Jar Stadium.

One disadvantage of holding events in football stadiums is that they take over the venue, displacing sporting events. In this case, a megastar concert like Lopez’s was given clear priority over a local football match. Unfortunately, the relocation of a scheduled game to an alternative venue was not the only inconvenience.

The condition of Bunyodkor Stadium following the concert has become a matter of public concern.

Reports indicate that the stadium’s turf was severely damaged during the event. Sports publications and bloggers have posted images showing the poor state of the field. The heavy stage structure installed for Jennifer Lopez’s performance reportedly caused part of the turf to sink.

In addition, the stadium’s irrigation and drainage systems suffered serious damage. According to Diyor Imamkhojayev, director of the Professional Football League of Uzbekistan (UzPFL), around \$1 million had been allocated to bring the stadium’s turf to its previous standard. He wrote:

“I am in Khiva. I did not see it with my own eyes, but according to the pictures, our expectations were justified. The field built for 1 million dollars is dead. Another 1 million was lost because certain aspects were rushed during the stadium’s construction. It could have been done for at least 400 thousand dollars.”

The quality of the field, originally built 13 years ago, has been repeatedly criticized. In the winter of 2023, a new hybrid surface—consisting of 80 percent natural and 20 percent artificial grass—was installed.

Sports journalist Narzulla Saydullayev wrote on his Telegram channel that it will take about two months to restore the pitch.

“I spoke with an agronomist who specializes in stadium turf. He said the dead grass must be removed using special equipment, which the Bunyodkor Stadium possesses. According to him, it will take about two months for the grass to fully recover,” Saydullayev reported.

It is worth noting that Bunyodkor Stadium is not the first venue to be damaged after hosting this concert. In Yerevan, the turf was also seriously damaged following Jennifer Lopez’s performance.

Diyor Imamkhojayev believes the same revenue could have been generated at a fraction of the cost.

“I must say that for three times less than the money spent on J.Lo, you could bring in two strong teams, save a $1 million lawn, and still sell tickets at a profit,” he wrote on his X page.

Lopez raises a hot topic

As expected, Jennifer Lopez’s concert sparked a wide range of discussions—from its funding and the damage to Bunyodkor Stadium, to her interactions with Uzbek colleagues and her revealing stage outfits. While debates swirled, Alisher Kadyrov, a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and head of the “Milliy Tiklanish” Democratic Party faction, raised an unexpected yet long-standing issue: the requirement for women wearing headscarves to remove them for passport photos.

“Jennifer Lopez’s concert is a profitable business and a closed event. She can hold it as long as she does not distribute drugs or spread anti-state propaganda. Showing her body is her choice, and watching it is the right of those who bought tickets. This is secularism.

However, the choice of a female compatriot who wishes to wear a veil is also protected by law. If we accept public nudity as secularism, we should also accept that the right to wear a veil must not be infringed. Just as we did not instruct Lopez on how to dress, we should stop instructing our women of faith on how to dress—and stop forcing women who adhere to their faith to remove their veils for passport photographs,” the deputy wrote on his Telegram channel.

As the leader of a political party, Kadyrov’s bold statement—contradicting current legislation—surprised many. Social media quickly filled with approving and supportive comments. For example, human rights activist Abdurakhmon Tashanov wrote that if Kadyrov knowingly and openly opposed a presidential decree, it was commendable.

“Alisher Kadyrov opposed the presidential decree. I don’t know how he dared to do so, but for today’s officials, it is almost unthinkable to challenge a requirement enshrined in a presidential decree. However, according to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s decree No. PF-6065 of September 22, 2020, it is explicitly states that a citizen must remove head coverings for ID photographs. If Alisher Kadyrov posted today’s statement knowingly and openly, then well done,” Tashanov wrote on his Facebook page.

Whether the benefits of Lopez’s concert to Uzbekistan outweigh the inconveniences it caused is a question without a clear answer. But it is certain that the event—and the debates it has stirred—will remain a central topic of public discussion for some time.