BTS is returning to the Bay Area for the first time as a group in eight years for their Arirang World Tour — and they’re stopping at the Stanford Stadium next week on May 16, 17 and 19.
“It’s been such a buildup,” said KQED’s resident BTS expert, the California Report Magazine’s producer Suzie Racho. “They’re really making a concerted effort to get to as many fans as possible.”
The anticipation is high as fans like Racho — also known as BTS ARMY — have been eagerly waiting for the group’s return since the hiatus in 2022, where members spent time fulfilling their mandatory service in the Korean military and pursuing their solo projects.
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.”
So if you have tickets to one of the three Stanford shows, 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.
A note: Stanford told KQED that specific details for these BTS shows are still being fleshed out, so we’ll be updating this guide with more information when we have it.
Jump straight to:
The BTS shows are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. for all three nights.
Information on when doors officially open has not been released yet. But it last-year’s sold-out Coldplay concert at the same venue last year, gates were scheduled to open at 5 p.m., with the show starting at 5:25 p.m.
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.
Bags that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:
Backpacks are not permitted. There is a bag check located at the Sunken Diamond on the south end of Stanford Stadium and at the north end of the stadium near Gate 10.
Items that are not allowed at Stanford Stadium include:
Be sure to keep an eye out for the weather in the coming days, but according to Stanford Stadium’s website, the concert will take place “rain or shine.”
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.
If you don’t mind spoilers, Billboard has the tour’s setlist from Tampa, Florida, which includes some of their early big hits like “Fake Love” and “Butter.”
You can buy parking passes, including ADA parking passes, on the Stanford website.
If these 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.
Rideshare pickup and dropoff is located at the Palo Alto Unified School District, at the intersection of El Camino Real and Churchill Ave. This location is across the street from the stadium and is, according to Google Maps, around a 10-minute walk.
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.
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.
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.
According to the Stanford Stadium website, fans with ADA tickets should plan to arrive early to Gate 1B, near the Stanford Ticket Office. The fan – and one friend – will be given access to the ADA platform.
“From there, guests will be transported via golf cart down to the field and assisted by venue staff to the ADA platform,” the website reads. “There will be a mix of folding chairs and wheelchair spaces on the platform.”
According to Ticketmaster, all three nights of the Arirang World Tour are sold out.
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.
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