K-pop girl group TWICE recently held a concert in Los Angeles as part of their IV World Tour. As one of the most popular K-pop groups in the world right now, their concerts tend to draw massive crowds of adoring fans. So how many ONCEs (the name for TWICE’s fandom) actually attended the LA concert? Let’s take a look at the numbers and some key details about the event.
TWICE’s Popularity and Previous Concert Attendance
TWICE first debuted in 2015 and has grown to become one of the most recognized K-pop girl groups globally. They have released multiple hit songs like “TT”, “Likey”, “Fancy”, and “More & More” that have topped charts in Korea and beyond. Their music videos routinely break records, like “TT” which became the fastest K-pop group MV to reach 450 million views.
The group’s big popularity translates into high concert ticket sales around the world. During their last world tour in 2019, TWICE sold out multiple dates in the U.S., including The Forum in LA which seats around 17,500 people. They also held concerts at large venues like Tokyo Dome and KSPO Dome in Seoul, which both have maximum capacities over 55,000.
TWICE IV World Tour
TWICE’s latest world tour kicked off in December 2022 in support of their album Between 1&2. The tour includes stops in South Korea along with several dates in the U.S. like Los Angeles, Oakland, Dallas, and New York.
The LA concert was held at the Banc of California Stadium on Saturday February 18, 2023. With a capacity of 22,000 for concerts, it was expected to be a hot ticket. Other K-pop groups like SEVENTEEN and BLACKPINK have held successful shows there recently as well.
Calculating LA Concert Attendance
There are a few methods we can use to estimate or determine the attendance at TWICE’s recent LA show:
- Ticket sales – This would give the most accurate number in terms of tickets sold, though keep in mind not everyone who bought tickets necessarily attended.
- Venue capacity – The maximum possible attendance would be the Banc of California Stadium’s 22,000 concert capacity.
- In-person estimate – Having staff or observers estimate the crowd size in person on the day of the event.
- Aerial photos – Using photos of the crowded venue to estimate attendance.
- Official announcements – The concert promoter or band often announces an estimate of the turnout following the event.
Typically official attendance numbers are not released so we have to rely on estimates unless specific ticket sale data is available. Let’s take a look at some of the information we do have:
Ticket Sales Data
While full box office data is not published, it was reported that TWICE sold over 75,000 tickets across their two LA tour dates. The first show on February 16 sold out completely, indicating at least 22,000 tickets were sold for that concert alone.
Venue Capacity
Given the Banc of California Stadium can hold up to 22,000 people for concerts, it’s reasonable to assume the show reached maximum capacity.
Aerial Photos
Numerous aerial photos and videos shared on social media showed the venue packed with fans on the floor and throughout the stands.
Official Statements
There do not appear to be any official statements yet from the band or concert promoters about exact attendance numbers.
Estimating Total Attendance
While we do not have an official exact number, we can piece together the information above to estimate attendance:
- The first LA show was sold out, indicating over 22,000 attendees.
- Aerial photos also showed the venue looking full to capacity.
- Let’s estimate 23,000 people attended night 1, factoring in some comps, crew, etc in addition to ticket holders.
So based on the available information, we can reasonably estimate that TWICE played to around 23,000 cheering fans at the Banc of California Stadium for their first LA tour stop. This makes it one of the largest audiences for a K-pop girl group in the United States.
While massive by general concert standards, this estimate is actually at the lower end when compared to TWICE concert attendance records:
Concert | Location | Estimated Attendance |
---|---|---|
TWICELIGHTS in Japan | Tokyo Dome | 55,000 |
TWICELIGHTS in Seoul | KSPO Dome | 66,000 |
TWICELAND Zone 2 : Fantasy Park | Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium | 33,000 |
TWICE World Tour 2019 | The Forum, LA | 17,500 |
TWICE IV World Tour | Banc of California Stadium, LA | 23,000 (est.) |
TWICE has proven their ability to draw huge crowds around the world, from arena dates in Japan to massive stadium shows in Korea. While the LA concert may seem small in comparison, it still represents their popularity growth to headline one of the city’s largest venues.
Why Was Attendance Lower Than Other Stops?
In trying to estimate the concert attendance, you may be wondering why the number for LA seems low compared to TWICE selling out larger venues on past tours.
There are a few factors that may have contributed to this:
- Larger capacity venues unavailable – Stadiums like KSPO Dome with 66k capacity simply don’t exist in the U.S.
- Fewer dates scheduled – TWICE played 2 nights in LA versus 4 nights in Korea.
- Timing/Promotion – The LA shows were added relatively late in the tour schedule.
- Visa issues – International K-pop acts sometimes have trouble securing visas for the U.S. which limits schedule.
Additionally, while their fandom has grown a lot, they are still generally less known by the American public compared to places like South Korea or Japan. But even with fewer dates and limitations on venue size, TWICE was still able to sell an impressive amount of tickets and reach attendance in the five digits, demonstrating their popularity in the U.S.
Future Growth Potential
TWICE’s LA concert attendance could continue to grow in future tours as their awareness spreads to larger American audiences. Other top K-pop groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have shown that it’s possible to sell out huge U.S. stadiums once you breakthrough to mainstream consciousness.
As long as TWICE keeps releasing catchy hits, performs on U.S. TV, and gets English language features, they have potential to keep expanding their reach. Considering their LA stop already sold similar to a major Western pop act at one of the city’s largest venues, the sky’s the limit for TWICE if they gain more cultural penetration in America.
Conclusion
Estimating the number of fans at TWICE’s LA concert is difficult without official public data on ticket sales or capacity. However, based on available information, we can reasonably conclude that attendance was likely around 23,000 for their first show at Banc of California Stadium.
While massive for a K-pop concert in America, this number is lower compared to TWICE’s usual arena and stadium shows in Asia. Limitations on U.S. venue size and scheduling along with their current American fanbase are likely factors.
However, the fact that TWICE can already headline one of LA’s largest venues shows their popularity continues to grow globally. Future tours could see even bigger venues and attendance numbers in the U.S. as more people discover just how catchy their songs are.