Harry Styles concerts force Ajax to play playoff games in Volendam stadium

Following their nil nil draw on the road against sc Heerenveen last Sunday Ajax earned a spot in the Eredivisie playoffs for UEFA Conference League action. The Amsterdam club will meet FC Groningen in the semifinal on Thursday May 21 but not in their usual home ground.

Pop star Harry Styles is set to perform 10 shows at Ajax home stadium the Johan Cruyff Arena from May 16 to June 5 which includes May 20 and May 23 the evenings before the playoff matches. This situation means Ajax cannot host their games in Amsterdam.

They will instead use FC Volendams Kras Stadion for these matches. It is a thirty six minute bus journey from Amsterdam and it holds only 6800 fans which is almost 50000 less than the Johan Cruyff Arena that holds 56120.

Another issue to consider is that FC Volendam will also be involved in playoff matches but for them it is about avoiding relegation against Willem II. They play on Wednesday May 20 in Tilburg and on Saturday May 23 in Volendam.