2022 has proven to be quite the busy year for many K-pop acts. Just within the past two months, groups such as Ateez and Twice have concluded their successful tours in the U.S.; recently, it has been announced that BTS would return to the U.S. as a continuation of their “Permission to Dance On Stage” concerts – this time in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The members of BTS will be putting on 4 sold out shows during April 8th, 9th, 15th, and 16th at Allegiant Stadium. All tickets were claimed during the presale exclusive to those who purchased a fan club membership, leaving none available for the general public sale scheduled to happen days after two days of presales.
All tickets may have been released due to previous complaints made against Ticketmaster for the lack of tickets reserved specifically for Army members. Prior to the presale release, Ticketmaster issued a statement via Twitter: “Due to overwhelming demand during today’s @BTS_BigHit BTS GLOBAL OFFICIAL FANCLUB ARMY MEMBERSHIP Presale, all tickets for the @AllegiantStadm shows have been purchased. All shows are now sold out. There will not be a General Verified Fan Presale or General Public Onsale.”
The last stretch of concerts took place at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles late last year, which has garnered a huge response due to this being their first in-person set of performances since the pandemic began. Even their fanbase, Army, have exhibited their excitement about seeing their favorite artist again this time around through various social media outlets by sharing their potential concert outfits online and speculating the possibility of a greater world tour.
However, taking place before their concerts are the much-awaited 2022 Grammy Awards, where BTS have been nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with their hit single “Butter.” While it hasn’t been officially confirmed that the group will be in attendance, many fans are starting to believe that it’s in the cards. According to members RM and Jungkook back in December 2021, they originally had plans to go to the Grammys; due to a surge in COVID cases, the ceremony was postponed, and their plans fell through. Their management company, HYBE, stated to Korean news outlet Newsen, “We were preparing to attend the Grammys but stopped discussing plans after hearing about the postponement of the ceremony.”
The Grammys are expected to take place in Las Vegas on April 3rd, days before their first concert in the same city. Army’s are anticipating that BTS would take home their first-ever award, especially after they didn’t manage to snag a trophy last year.
Meanwhile, BTS is preparing to perform their Seoul leg of the tour on March 10th, 11th, and 12th. Due to COVID regulations in South Korea, they are minimizing capacity and only allowing 15,000 concertgoers to attend in person. Fans will also be prohibited from chanting, yelling, and standing up during the performances; they will only be permitted to use clappers to express their enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, fans from both Korea and America are ecstatic about what’s to come in the following weeks.
Sam Kim
Asia Journal
