KUALA LUMPUR: Pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, 44, said that her choice of the Axiata Arena as the venue of her March 9, 2024 concert had been decided upon a few months ago.
In an interview with Harian Metro Online yesterday, Siti said that the larger Bukit Jalil National Stadium had never been considered as the venue for her concert titled Konsert Sebuah Epitome Saya Siti Nurhaliza.
"The concert location is not an issue. Even though the National Stadium, which played host to the massive Coldplay concert last month has a much greater seating capacity, I have always wanted my concert to be held indoors at Axiata Arena," she said.
Siti described her March concert as a "sweet homecoming" as it was there that she held her first major concert when she was 20 years old.
"It was 1999 and it was my maiden solo concert on a large scale. The venue was Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil and I had to use my own financial resources to make it happen, as I did not know much about seeking corporate sponsorship then," said Siti.
She added that she worked round the clock to ensure that preparations for the concert were carried out perfectly.
"I pushed myself hard to give my fans my best. And I will always be thankful to the late Pak Ngah (Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain) for training me in dancing and playing percussion instruments to make the concert colourful and memorable," she said.
Siti also said that the massive turnout of fans at the concert was one of her most surreal moments, as she did not expect she would be a crowd-puller.
"It is truly nostalgic to come back to Axiata Arena. My concert will be the homecoming I have always wanted, for this venue is the very same place that was known as Stadium Putra back then," she added.
It was reported on Nov 30 that Siti hoped to have a bigger concert than that of Coldplay before she retired.
The British band's Nov 22 concert at the National Stadium was attended by 75,000 people and beat Siti's Fantasia Tour 2004 at the same venue which was attended by 70,000 people.