Was BTS Mexico Concert Ticketing Unfair? Statement Condemns "Sold Out in 37 Minutes" and Scalper Dominance as "Injustice"

[Financial News] Global attention is focused on the world tour of BTS (Bangtan Boys). In Mexico, expectations are so high that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said on the 19th (local time), "We welcome the realization of this concert. It is a historic moment." BTS is scheduled to perform at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City on May 7, 9, and 10.

According to local media, the Mexico concerts saw the fiercest ticketing competition in the country’s recent concert history. Around 1.1 million people entered the virtual queue during the booking process, and all seats for the three shows sold out just 37 minutes after sales began. The presale for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth (ARMY) also sold out its allotted tickets in less than an hour.
Amid this, on the 25th a Mexican fan (isis_**) posted on global fan platform Weverse, saying, "A troubling situation has occurred in the ticket sales process for the BTS Mexico 'ARIRANG' tour," and shared related materials and a statement, calling for the attention of Hybe.
The fan argued that "this is not just frustration; it is an injustice," claiming that fans who have supported BTS for years, followed the rules, and participated in the presale still failed to secure tickets.
They stated, "Scalpers have monopolized tickets in large quantities, and prices have soared to absurd levels," blaming this on Ticketmaster’s poor management and lack of an adequate system. The statement criticized, "It is unfair that scalpers are given priority over fans, and it is wrong that 'sold out' has become something to be celebrated."
In the statement, the Mexican ARMY declared, "Hybe must recognize the current situation, and Ticketmaster must be held accountable," adding, "We are speaking up because we have the right to respect, fair access, and transparent procedures." They also said they had asked the Federal Consumer Protection Agency of Mexico (PROFECO) to intervene and had submitted evidence, testimonies, and consumer reports to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Separately, another Mexican fan posted an article addressed to Big Hit Music and Hybe titled "Justice for Mexico, BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'." In the post, the fan expressed dissatisfaction with the ticket sales process for the Mexico City concerts and claimed they were unable to buy tickets because of the resale market. The fan appealed to ARMY around the world, saying, "Please do not buy tickets from scalpers in Mexico."
Meanwhile, BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' kicked off in Goyang in Gyeonggi Province and will continue at Tokyo Dome in Japan on April 17–18. The tour will then visit North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and other regions. A total of 81 shows will be held in 34 cities, marking the largest number of dates for a K-pop tour to date.
jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter