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The BTS army is mobilizing. This weekend and Tuesday evening, tens of thousands of fans will travel to Stanford University to see the K-pop band BTS perform for three days of sold-out shows. The concerts are expected to bring a euphoric wave of purple – the unofficial color of the group’s fandom – an economic boost and increased traffic.
The internationally famous boyband from South Korea will play at Stanford’s football stadium from 7 to 10 p.m. on May 16, May 17 and May 19.
BTS fans are called the ARMY, an acronym that stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth. The band is touring for the first time in nearly four years following a hiatus while members completed their mandatory military service.
“I hope it is a welcome opportunity for the community to celebrate and invite people into this beautiful place,” said Iris Nemani, director of Stanford Live, the university’s performing arts organization that is leading the organization of the concert.
The website gostanford.com/bts contains more information about parking, traffic flows and road closures. It also includes information for attendees about the venue’s bag policy, tailgating and merchandise. Area residents can email out to concertinfo@stanford.edu about sound concerns and other inquiries.
Second act
The BTS concert follows last year’s Coldplay spring concerts, the first-ever artist to play in the Stanford football stadium. Nemani said Coldplay was well-received by students and community members. The energy at those concerts, she said, was special. The BTS concert is even bigger than Coldplay, Nemani said.
“This is double the size on the operation side of Coldplay,” Nemani said. “There are almost 100 trucks versus 40 with Coldplay. So it’s a bigger stage, a bigger show, and we’re doing an additional night.”
Stanford Live may continue to have large spring concerts in the Stanford Stadium, Nemani said, but artists must fulfill certain requirements. They must be available to perform during a window of time that doesn’t conflict with football season or Commencement. They also must be popular enough to fill a stadium that seats over 50,000 people. Finally, the artist must speak to multiple generations of people and to students, alumni and local residents.
“When [Live Nation] came to us with BTS, we kind of fell off our chairs because they are very, very special as an artist,” Nemani said.
Traffic expected
About 53,000 fans are expected for each of the sold-out concerts.
Gates to the stadium open at 4:30 p.m. ahead of each concert. The concerts start at 7 p.m. and end promptly at 10 p.m. Heavier traffic is expected before and after the concert. Certain roads on Stanford’s campus will be closed all day or for certain time periods, including certain sections of Arboretum Road and Lasuen Street.
Caltrain transit
Attendees can take the Caltrain to the Palo Alto station, a short walk from the Stanford football stadium. Caltrain will operate an additional northbound post-event train between Trains 171 and 173 to accommodate increased ridership following the concert. The train is expected to depart Palo Alto Station at 11:27 p.m.
Even Caltrain is leaning into the K-pop euphoria. BTS fans can take a K-pop themed Caltrain ahead of the Tuesday concert.
“BTS fans will have permission to dance on Caltrain’s two K-pop-themed trains as they head to the show from both the north and south to Palo Alto Station,” a Caltrain press statement says. “On board, fans will find decorated train cars, fun giveaways and prizes, music and a festive atmosphere as they travel to the concert with the rest of the BTS ARMY.”
The themed trains will take place on one northbound and one southbound train to the Palo Alto station. The Northbound Local 143 train departs San Jose Diridon Station at 3:23 p.m. and arrives at Palo Alto Station at 3:55 p.m. The Southbound Local 142 departs San Francisco Station at 3:25 p.m. arriving at Palo Alto Station at 4:14 p.m. for the 7 p.m. concert.
Sound and security
Expect short bursts of fireworks during the set with a grand finale of fireworks for a few minutes at the end.
A number of entities were involved in planning a safe and smooth event, Nemani said. This includes Stanford’s departments of Transportation and Department of Public Safety. Stanford also worked with the Palo Alto Fire Department and the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal’s Office and Department of Planning and Development to obtain permits to build the set and ensure the fireworks are safe.
Economic impact
Last year’s Coldplay concerts generated an estimated $2.5 million in state and local taxes, Nemani said. Patrons spent money on restaurants, hotels, retailers, merchandise and transportation. Nemani anticipates a similar economic impact this year. She added that BTS fans are known to travel far to see the group.
The concerts will also create a wave of temporary jobs, from security and stage construction to merchandise sales, food service, and post-show teardown.
“It’s like its own little city,” said Nemani. “There’s hundreds of people working on this concert, putting it together.”
