Global superstar Kanye 'Ye' West has had his plans to tour Australia this year hit a roadblock, with the American artist told his concerts must fit in around the AFL fixture.
As reported by Sam McClure and Karl Quinn in The Age, the AFL has been approached about a fixture change, with a Round 1 match clashing with a scheduled tour for West.
West hasn't performed in Australia since 2014, however that couldn't convince the AFL to change anything. It's understood the musician's intended tour included the use of Marvel Stadium, the same night the AFL's opening round fixture between St Kilda and Collingwood is scheduled.
Despite being one of the world's biggest names in music, having won 22 Grammy's, the AFL will not budge.
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With fans having been starved of live footy for two years, the AFL will be expecting bumper crowds this year. With so much at stake financially, the AFL is keen on maximising its opportunities.
When COVID first hit in 2019, the AFL took large lines of credit from NAB and ANZ to secure its future. As a result, getting crowds back is more important than ever.
It's understood West's entourage approached the AFL about performing at Marvel on March 21. The AFL knocked the mooted date back and instead it's thought he will perform eight days prior on March 13.
It may all be for nought, however. West's vaccination status is unclear, having made a number of contradicting statements on the matter. He claimed to have received the first dose, however, in an interview with Forbes magazine in 2020, made some bizarre comments.
โWhen they say the way we're going to fix COVID is with a vaccine, I'm extremely cautious...That's the mark of the beast. They want to put chips inside of us, they want to do all kinds of things, to make it where we can't cross the gates of heaven," West said.
Australia's vaccination policy now crystal clear following the Novak Djokovic debacle. West will need to toe the line or cancel his plans.
With his personal life continuing to make headlines rather than his music, it would be a shame for Australian's to miss out on a chance to see him doing what he does best.
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Clearly though, public safety will be coming first and football second. It remains to be seen if any of that will be enough to convince 'Ye' to change his mind.
