Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know

And for a group that is performing elsewhere at some of the biggest stadiums in the world, some may be a little surprised that BTS’s Bay Area shows are at Stanford Stadium, the university’s football stadium near Palo Alto. But Racho said she’s hopeful she is a chance that the venue may actually help fans “experience it a little bit more immersively.”

This will be the second-ever touring concert engagement hosted at Stanford, one year after Coldplay played two sold-out shows here. And when it comes to the imminent BTS concerts, “there’s a pride of place — that this is happening here,” said Stanford Live director Iris Nemani.

“We’re not going to become a stadium venue that’s going to do 100 concerts a year,” Nemani said, “but when we have very special artists like BTS … the university has decided to say yes.”

So if you have tickets to one of the three Stanford shows on May 16, 17 or 19, we’ve compiled this guide on everything you need to know about seeing BTS next week, from parking to bag policy to public transportation and more.

And if you’re looking for themed things to do in the Bay Area before the BTS shows, take a look at our recommendations for K-Pop inspired stories, events and parties happening this weekend.

Jump straight to:

• Can I still get tickets for BTS’s Stanford shows?
• What is the bag policy for Stanford Stadium?

What time are the BTS shows at Stanford?

The BTS shows are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. for all three nights.

Gates will open at 4:30 p.m., with public entrances at Stanford Stadium’s Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12. If you leave the venue, you cannot reenter.

While some BTS concerts have started late in other cities, it is worth noting that Stanford has a strict sound curfew at 10 p.m. All in all, it might be reasonable to expect these shows to start on time.

What is the bag policy for the BTS shows at Stanford?

Bags that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:

• Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″x6″x12″
• Small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” x 2” (with or without a handle or strap), in addition to a clear bag
• Non-clear “medically necessary” bags, including diaper bags — although these will be subjected to additional screening

Backpacks are not permitted, including those sold at the Official BTS Merchandise stands. There are three bag checks located near Gate 10, inside the main entrance of Sunken Diamond and the main entrance of Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Items that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:

• BTS Official Light sticks with batteries
• Blankets
• Sealed or empty soft plastic bottles smaller than 20 oz
• Plush toys
• Small, portable phone chargers, handheld fans and neck fans
• Keychains
• Liquid sunscreen
• Non-professional still cameras (disposable, Polaroid, lenses less than 6” in length) for personal use
• Signs smaller than 11”x15” (but be nice to your fellow fans and try not to wave your sign throughout the entire concert – you’ll block their view)
• Seat cushions smaller than 18″

Items that are not allowed at Stanford Stadium include:

• Balls, frisbees, whole fruit (seriously) or “other potential projectiles,” according to Stanford
• Bicycles, skates, scooters, or skateboards
• Hard plastic, glass, ceramic or metal bottles
• Chairs (unless ADA compliant)
• Horns or artificial noisemakers
• Laser lights, strobes and flashlights
• Open umbrellas
• Poles, selfie-sticks, GoPros, monopods and tripods
• Flags
• Strollers (unless ADA compliant)

What if it rains during the BTS concert in this outdoor stadium?

Stanford’s Nemani confirmed the BTS show will go on in this outdoor stadium, rain or shine.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the weather in the coming days. If you are not local to the area, keep in mind that the Bay Area can get deceptively cold at night.

Should I have cash on hand at the BTS concert?

Stanford Stadium is a cashless venue, so you need a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet like Apple Pay.

How do I know I have a good seat at Stanford Stadium?

You can check out a 3-D rendering of Stanford Stadium on the university’s website. But the Arirang tour is performed in the round, on a 360-degree stage, making it even easier for fans to actually see the BTS members.

What will the setlist be for BTS’s Stanford shows?

If you don’t mind spoilers, Billboard has the tour’s setlist from Tampa, Florida, which includes some of their big hits like “Fake Love” and “Butter.”

What should I know about parking at Stanford for the BTS show?

Keitch Juricich, from the Stanford Athletics Operations and Events team, said the University has been working with the city on traffic flows and parking — and that more staffing will be available on BTS concert nights, “to make sure that we are moving people as quickly as we possibly can.”

You can buy parking passes, including ADA parking passes, on the Stanford website. According to Stanford, these passes must be purchased by 12 a.m. on the day of the event. You will need to create an account on the Stanford website, and you can buy up to four passes.

Parking lots will be open at 1:30 p.m. on show days.

If these passes are sold out, you can try your luck with third-party parking websites like SpotHero for other non-Stanford parking options farther away. You may find residents of nearby Stanford neighborhoods are selling parking spots for the night.

If you are from out of town and have rented a car, be sure to read KQED’s guide on the unfortunately common problem of break-ins in the Bay Area and keep your vehicle safe.

Keep in mind that Stanford is a pretty spread-out campus, and it could be worth wearing comfortable shoes for any walking you need to do.

Will there be road closures on the day of the BTS concerts?

If you are driving, be aware that there will be some reroutes happening on the day of the concert.

According to Stanford Stadium, there will be street closures on:

• Arboretum/Palm intersection between Palm Drive & Galvez Street, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Arboretum Road, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Roth Way, closed all day on show days
• Galvez Street between Campus Drive and Jane Stanford Way, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Where are the Uber and Lyft pickup/dropoff spots for BTS’s Stanford shows?

On BTS concert night, the Wilbur Lot (660 Escondido Road) will be the spot for pickup and dropoff, which is around a 20-minute walk from the Stadium.

Before and after the show, there will be ADA golf transportation for guests available.

What’s the best way to take public transit to the BTS show?

To avoid some of the hassles of parking and rideshare costs, public transportation can be a great option for getting to these concerts.

For some of these transportation options, you can use a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay to tap on and off these services.

Be sure to check when the last train leaves for the night. While the concert is likely to end at 10 p.m. sharp, there is a chance that the crowds might make it hard to exit the stadium.

Stanford has a pretty comprehensive guide on public transportation in the area, but here are the highlights:

Caltrain

The closest Caltrain station to the campus is the Palo Alto stop. You can plan your route by using Caltrain’s Trip Planner.

“We’re working with Caltrain to really encourage alternative transportation modes,” Nemani said, adding that fans can expect themed Caltrain cars and Stanford merch giveaways.

The Caltrain station is less than a mile away from Stanford Stadium, but you could catch the free Marguerite Shuttle to help you get closer. 

A spokesperson for Caltrain said in an email to KQED that on the weekend concerts, the last northbound train leaving the Palo Alto Station will be at 11:58 p.m. The last southbound train of the night will leave at 12:56 a.m.

For the Tuesday concert, the final northbound train of the night will leave the Palo Alto Station at 11:57 p.m. The last southbound train will leave at 12:54 p.m.

A heads-up: While there is a Stanford stop on the Caltrain, it will not be in use during the BTS concerts.

For younger fans 18 and under, Caltrain rides are under $1 for one day and $2 for a Day pass.

BART

BART provides service through the Peninsula and the East Bay.

You can use BART’s Trip Planner for an exact route, but in general, to get to Stanford, you would need to transfer to the Caltrain at the Millbrae, Fremont and Union City stops.

SamTrans

SamTrans connects to the Palo Alto train station to all of San Mateo County. You can plan your trip on the SamTrans’ website.

VTA

The VTA, which serves Santa Clara, goes along El Camino Real. The VTA Trip Planner is available on the agency’s website.

According to VTA’s social media accounts, Bus Routes 22 and 522 are the best ways to get to Stanford Stadium.

Biking

There will be first-come, first-served bike parking on Nelson Road across from Gate 4 and Sam MacDonald Road across from Gate 3. Your bikes will be looked after by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.

What should I know about accessibility for the BTS shows?

According to Stanford Stadium, if a fan needs accessible seating, they should contact Ticketmaster to switch their ticket to an ADA seat.

ADA seating is available in:

• Row Y of all 100-level sections and Row V of 200-level sections in seats 201-207, 219-227, and 239-240
• Select portions of Sections 208, 218, 228, and 238
• ADA platforms in Sections B, F, and P on the floor

Fans with floor access should enter through Gate 1B. There will be a golf cart available. However, there are no escort services.

To get ASL access, fans should reach out to athleticstickets@stanford.edu a week before the day of the concert.

Can I tailgate at the Arirang World Tour?

Yes, fans can tailgate around their vehicles “during the day, during the hours that the campus is open for the concerts,” Nemani said. Tailgate setups should not be blocking any pathways.

Some fans have been known to camp out overnight to get a head start on merch lines. However, Nemani said “there is no overnight camping” on the Stanford campus: “None at all.”

What do I need to know about merch at the Arirang World Tour?

There will be BTS merch trailers at the Stanford shows, where Nemani said the venue will be using Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, which allows customers to pay at entry and walk out with merch without formally checking out their purchases. “Hopefully that will move people through quickly,” Nemani said.

There will be an early merch day at the Stanford Hammer Throw on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For Friday only: If you are being dropped off at the sale, go to Maples Pavilion (655 Campus Drive). If you are driving, there will be parking at the IM South lot, which will open at 9 a.m. Parking costs $10, and cash will not be accepted.

There will also be BTS merch sales on the days of the show, when trailers will open at 9 a.m. There will also be merch sales within the stadium itself. Early parking will be available at 8 a.m. for merch opening at lots like the IM South Lot and Roth Garage — although bear in mind these spots will require a parking pass.

As people leave the BTS shows, “we will keep the main merch tent open for about an hour afterwards,” Nemani said.

However, she also emphasized that these trailers will not be pickup areas for merch bought through Weverse Shop.

Can I still get tickets for the Arirang World Tour?

According to Ticketmaster, all three nights of the Arirang World Tour remain sold out. Box office, near Gate 2, opens at 2 p.m., but will not be able to help with BTS tickets on non-show days.

You could try resale vendors like StubHub, where tickets can range from $250 to more than $900.

But remember, it’s worth being cautious about online resales, especially with social media ticket trades. And some fans have posted online that their resale tickets for the earlier shows, like Tampa, were being canceled.

Vendors like StubHub may be able to help you refund your tickets if a situation like this arises.