BTS has completely painted Mexico City purple! Returning after 10 years, the atmosphere inside and outside the venue was a total festival, and the economic impact created by the group was beyond imagination.
From May 7 to May 10 (local time), BTS held ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN MEXICO CITY’ at Estadio GNP Seguros over three days, connecting with approximately 150,000 fans. This marked their first full-group solo concert in Mexico in about 10 years and 10 months since 2015, with all three shows selling out instantly.
The group captivated local fans with their unrivaled live vocals and perfectly synchronized choreography. The stadium erupted in cheers when the lyrics “We goin’ from Mexico City” rang out during ‘Airplane pt.2’, a song the members chose spontaneously as a special gift for the fans.
The attention to local culture also shone through. Dancers wearing ‘Lucha Libre’ masks, Mexico’s traditional professional wrestling gear, appeared during ‘Aliens’ to hype up the crowd. Meanwhile, clips of V enjoying the Mexican snack ‘Banderilla’ during ‘IDOL’ went viral on social media, sparking an explosive reaction from ARMYs worldwide.
The excitement extended far beyond the venue. According to local authorities, about 35,000 fans who couldn’t get tickets gathered around the stadium, leading to temporary road closures.
The LA Times highlighted the event, noting that it is rare for a boy band to become a matter of international diplomatic interest, focusing on the official invitation from the Mexican President and the intense ticket war involving over a million people. This suggests that BTS’s activities have evolved beyond mere performances into a cultural phenomenon and diplomatic event.
The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce estimated the economic effect of the concerts to be approximately 107 million dollars (about 155.7 billion KRW), including ticket sales, accommodation, and tourism spending. With the hospitality sector alone generating about 24.6 billion KRW, the group proved the power of ‘BTSnomics’ by significantly boosting the local economy.
BTS expressed their heartfelt gratitude in Spanish, saying, “You guys were truly the best. We will never forget the passion that stretched all the way from Zócalo square.”
After successfully wrapping up their Mexico schedule, BTS is now heading to North America. They are set to continue the tour’s heat at Stanford Stadium in the US on May 16, 17, and 19. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has already announced plans for special bus routes for concert-goers, showing that even city infrastructure is buzzing in anticipation of BTS’s arrival.
