BTS Makes History in London: 130,000 Fans Pack Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

BTS has set another historic milestone, performing for approximately 130,000 fans in London.

BTS held their BTS WORLD TOUR "ARIRANG" IN LONDON at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 6–7 (local time). All tickets for the concerts sold out immediately upon release. According to the concert promoter Live Nation, BTS drew approximately 130,000 fans over the two days, setting the record for the highest attendance per show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since it opened in April 2019.

BTS has consistently left meaningful marks whenever they visit London. Following their historic achievement as the first Korean artists to hold a solo concert at Wembley Stadium in June 2019, they have added a new record to their legacy upon returning to London as a full group after about seven years.

The excitement in London was palpable even before the shows began. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium introduced BTS as "Pop Royalty" through their official channels. The official Korean-language account for Tottenham Hotspur also welcomed fans worldwide by sharing a video of the title track "SWIM" from the group's 5th studio album, "ARIRANG", playing inside the stadium.

BTS kicked off the concert with "Hooligan" from their 5th studio album. They continued to heat up the venue with new tracks such as "NORMAL" and "Body to Body," alongside global hits including "IDOL" and "FIRE."

The members shared their thoughts, saying, "We are feeling the same emotions we felt at Wembley Stadium seven years ago. Thanks to your passion, we had such a wonderful time. It brought back many memories of our past performances, and we were surprised once again to realize just how passionate London is as a city."

Local media also showered the performances with praise. British music magazine Rolling Stone UK and the daily newspaper The Guardian both awarded the concert a perfect five-star rating.

Rolling Stone UK likened the BTS London concert to a "coronation," stating that they have "reclaimed the throne as the biggest band in the world." They praised the group for delivering a performance worthy of the long wait for fans who had been anticipating a full-group stage.

The Guardian described the show, featuring spectacular fireworks and diverse stage production, as an "incredibly enjoyable spectacle," adding that "the power BTS possesses is immense."

The Times gave the concert four stars, highlighting the large-scale performances, special effects, and the use of the entire stadium space. NME focused on the group's Korean identity, which was woven throughout the performance through traditional Korean music, architecture, and dance.

Meanwhile, BTS will continue their European tour at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on July 11–12. BTS is set to challenge for another record as the first Korean artists to perform at the Allianz Arena. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)