ARMYs Raise Concerns About The Safety Of Fans At SoFi Stadium During “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE”
BTS recently reunited with ARMYs in LA for their first in-person concert since before the pandemic through their PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE concert. From the members’ cursing, Jin‘s cute hairstyles, and Jungkook being shirtless, there were many moments that fans couldn’t get enough of.
However, as much as fans have been praising the concert and how much they enjoyed it, a lot of criticism has been raised about the organization of the event from SoFi stadium.
On the first date on November 27 (PST), fans were filling the area surrounding the venue all day in the hopes of buying some merch and meeting friends before the show. In particular, there were a lot of photo spots to take cute selfies to get excited about the show.
Yet, when it got closer to the show, fans shared stories of the disorganization and chaos that was happening near the entrance to the venue. In particular, as the crowd was only let in with less than an hour left until the show started, many shared that the staff was no longer checking tickets, bags, or vaccination cards.
One ARMY even shared a video saying that the staff at one gate was allowing everyone throughout without checking, as long as the fans weren’t pushing.
just overheard a security member yelling at another security member because some sofi members weren't checking tickets or vaccine cards….people are just walking through….wtf @SoFiStadium?? pic.twitter.com/VycsZZTsDi
— emma⁷ SAW BTS 💜 (@hyyhaficionado) November 28, 2021
Some ARMYs inside the stadium even shared that they saw people in the VIP section who didn’t even have tickets to the show. Many had managed to get in through the crowds and avoid being checked.
Today at the BTS Permission to Dance (PTD), a girl next to me and I were rudely ambushed by a fansite. She kept sticking her huge camera next to us and hitting our heads with it. They say in our seats and didn’t care when we kept telling them to get our. She then pushed me hard + pic.twitter.com/hptp6nr0He
— ash ⁷ is seeing BTS!! (@crispykooky) November 28, 2021
With this happening, ARMYs shared that the concert had to start late.
apparently the concert has been delayed for an hour and its probably due to the volume of people in line and lack of organization from sofi staff…
— BOOM✮ (@elitevirgos) November 28, 2021
After the first event, ARMYs shared that they had spoken to the management and security team at the event. The staff explained that they would have a meeting to discuss what had happened that evening and improve things.
just had a conversation with a staff member at sofi. apparently their staff was here well past midnight last night to figure out everything that needed to change for today, and they got here a few hours earlier than they were supposed today to make sure everything goes smoothly.
— 💛💜sam⁷ (@btsonyeonsam) November 29, 2021
On November 28 (PST), fans seemed to feel safer as they arrived at the venue, and there was more staff on hand to help fans and hand out bottles of water to those who had been queuing for merchandise all day.
However, that same user shared that by 5:30 PM, the conditions had become as bad as the night before. The video seemed to show that as the crowds were increasing, there was no real organization from staff.
ONE OF THE SOFI STAFF STOOD UP ON A ROCK, LOOKED AT THE CROWD AND JUST LET OUT A DEEP SIGH OF DEFEAT
— ba⁷ MISSES BTS (@bajoonie) November 29, 2021
After the horrors that took place during the ASTROWorld music festival, where many attendees were injured and ten killed due to the lack of control, it seemed like something this should’ve been avoided. Also, with the world still worrying about the pandemic, it seems as if more should’ve been done to prepare for what the venue knew would be an extremely busy event.
With two more nights left at the stadium, fans worldwide are hoping that the staff and venue have learned from its mistakes and will improve it for the upcoming shows.
