BTS’s Mexico City concerts were completely sold out, but the excitement didn’t stop there, as fans who couldn’t snag tickets still flocked to the stadium!
From the 7th to the 10th (local time), BTS held ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN MEXICO CITY’ at Estadio GNP Seguros over three days, meeting approximately 150,000 fans.
This marks their first full-group solo concert in Mexico in about 10 years and 10 months since July 2015, with all three shows selling out the moment tickets went on sale.
Fans showed explosive energy, even singing along to the Korean lyrics! A major highlight was the performance of ‘Airplane pt.2’, which features the lyric “We goin’ from Mexico City”. The seven members showed their wit by spontaneously selecting this song, touching the hearts of the crowd and creating a truly special moment.
The integration of Mexican culture into the performances was also a huge hit. Dancers wearing traditional Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling masks appeared during ‘Aliens’, and a clip of V enjoying a local snack called Banderilla during ‘IDOL’ quickly went viral on social media.
The members shared their gratitude, saying, “You were truly the best. What more can I say? I will definitely come back to Mexico,” and “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the passion that stretched all the way from Zócalo Square. I’m leaving with so many wonderful memories of Mexico.”
The heat outside the venue was just as intense. Local authorities estimate that about 35,000 fans surrounded the stadium during the second and third days of the show, leading to temporary road closures as the crowd spilled into the streets.
The economic impact, known as ‘BTSnomics’, is also drawing significant attention. The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce expects the concerts to generate an economic effect of approximately $107 million (about 155.7 billion KRW), including ticket sales, flights, accommodation, food and beverages, and local business spending.
Specifically, the influx of domestic and international tourists is estimated to bring in about $17 million (about 24.6 billion KRW) for accommodation and $2.18 million (about 3.2 billion KRW) for food, beverages, and services.
Before the concerts, BTS also met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. At the President’s invitation, the members visited the presidential office and greeted the massive crowd of fans gathered in the square from the balcony.
Meanwhile, BTS will meet fans again at Stanford Stadium on the 16th, 17th, and 19th. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) announced plans to operate special bus routes for these performances.
