Jerusalem Derby Sparks Controversy Over Major Concert Scheduling

A major concert featuring seven Israeli stars, including Eyal Golan, Eden Ben Zaken, and Davidoh Aaron, is scheduled to take place at the Pais Arena in Jerusalem shortly after the highly anticipated Jerusalem Derby football match between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Jerusalem. The derby, expected to draw 30,000 spectators to Teddy Stadium, is set for the end of November. The concert, slated to begin just two hours after the match kicks off and conclude around its end, is anticipated to attract 11,000 attendees. This scheduling has ignited anger among officials from Hapoel Jerusalem, who are questioning how the Jerusalem Municipality approved such a large-scale event so close to a major sporting fixture. They expressed concerns about potential traffic chaos and the impact on public transportation, noting that the light rail stops before reaching the stadium area during sold-out events. Hapoel Jerusalem officials described the situation as a "big circus," particularly given the derby's prominence as a central match of the league round.