The K-pop girl group (G)I-DLE does not have an official location or office in Chicago, as they are based in South Korea and primarily promote their music activities there. However, the group has performed concerts and events in Chicago as part of their world tours to meet international fans. When visiting Chicago, (G)I-DLE typically stays in local hotels or rented accommodations. They do not have a permanent residence in the city.
About (G)I-DLE
(G)I-DLE is a 6-member South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The members are Miyeon, Minnie, Soojin, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. Soojin left the group in 2021. Their music style combines pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance elements. Some of their major hits include “Latata,” “Hann,” “Senorita,” and “Oh My God.”
After debuting in 2018, (G)I-DLE quickly rose to popularity and have embarked on several concert tours around the world. They have held concerts across Asia, North America, and Australia. As their fanbase continues to grow internationally, the group has been expanding their tours and promotions globally.
Concert Tours in North America
Some of (G)I-DLE’s concert tours in North America include:
- I-LAND: WHO AM I – The 1st World Tour (2022)
- I-LAND: WHO AM I – The 1st World Tour Encore (2022)
- (G)I-DLE World Tour ‘I-LAND’: North American Meet and Greet (2022)
- Cube Entertainment Season’s Greetings Party (2020)
During these tours, (G)I-DLE has performed in major cities across the United States and Canada like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Concerts in Chicago
As part of their 2022 world tour, (G)I-DLE performed two concerts in Chicago:
(G)I-DLE World Tour ‘I-LAND’ in Chicago
On August 6, 2022, (G)I-DLE held their I-LAND world tour concert at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. This was their first solo concert in Chicago as part of the I-LAND tour. The arena venue has a capacity of up to 10,000 seats.
(G)I-DLE World Tour ‘I-LAND’ Encore in Chicago
After the success of their first Chicago concert, (G)I-DLE announced an encore Chicago date for their I-LAND tour due to popular demand. On August 7, 2022, they performed at Credit Union 1 Arena with a max capacity around 5,000 seats.
For both Chicago tour dates, tickets were sold out quickly after going on sale. This demonstrated the group’s growing popularity in the United States, especially among their Chicago fanbase. Local Korean media also covered the concerts and noted Chicago as a key stop on (G)I-DLE’s world tour.
Where (G)I-DLE Stayed in Chicago
As (G)I-DLE does not have an official location or office in Chicago, they likely arranged accommodations at a local hotel during their stay in the city for the concerts. Some luxury hotels they may have stayed at include:
- Four Seasons Hotel Chicago – five star hotel located on North Michigan Avenue in the heart of downtown Chicago.
- Langham Chicago Hotel – high-end hotel located downtown overlooking the Chicago River.
- Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago – upscale hotel located on Wabash Avenue in the Near North Side neighborhood.
- Virgin Hotels Chicago – trendy lifestyle hotel located in the Loop neighborhood.
Factors like security, proximity to the concert venues, and amenities may have influenced (G)I-DLE’s hotel choice while staying in Chicago. As a top K-pop girl group, they likely required premium accommodations with security and privacy.
Where to Potentially Meet (G)I-DLE in Chicago
As their concerts were the only scheduled public appearances for (G)I-DLE in Chicago, fans had limited opportunities to potentially meet or see the group during their stay. Here are a few places fans may have been able to spot (G)I-DLE members while they were in Chicago:
- Near their hotel – Fans sometimes wait outside hotel entrances hoping to see idols arrive or depart.
- Concert venues – Wintrust Arena and Credit Union 1 Arena. Members may have arrived early or stayed late for rehearsals.
- Restaurants – If fans knew where members dined, they may have waited around these areas.
- Shopping areas – Members may have visited local shops like on the Magnificent Mile.
- Lake Michigan/Navy Pier – For some sightseeing if their schedule allowed.
However, dedicated fan meets, hi-touches, or other organized fan events were not included during (G)I-DLE’s Chicago tour stops. Meet and greets were only held at selected cities in their North American tour.
Places (G)I-DLE Visited in Chicago
(G)I-DLE’s schedule during their Chicago stay likely focused heavily on rehearsals and preparations for their back-to-back concerts. However, the members may have had time for some sightseeing around the city. Popular destinations they may have visited include:
- Cloud Gate “The Bean” sculpture in Millennium Park
- 360 Chicago Observation Deck for views of the city skyline
- Art Institute of Chicago to view famous paintings and artifacts
- Willis Tower and the Skydeck on the 103rd floor
- Lake Michigan waterfront and beaches
- Magnificent Mile for shopping on Michigan Avenue
- Chicago-style deep dish pizza restaurants
- Wrigley Field baseball stadium for a Chicago Cubs game
The members often share photos and videos from their travels on social media when they get free time. So it’s possible they posted some Chicago tourism content as well. Fans enjoy seeing idols explore and experience new places around the world during their busy schedules.
Local Media Coverage
As K-pop continues gaining worldwide popularity, (G)I-DLE’s Chicago concerts gained notable media attention from local outlets. Some of the Chicago-area news coverage included:
- Concert previews and reviews by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, and more
- Television news segments on channels like ABC 7 Chicago, NBC 5 Chicago, WGN-TV
- Radio interviews on Chicago stations like B96 and 101WKQX
- Coverage in Chicago-based K-pop blogs and entertainment sites
The media highlighted the significance of Chicago as a stop on (G)I-DLE’s expanding world tour. Both Korean-American fans and general music fans were excited for the K-pop group to perform in the city. Local reporters also noted the impressive quick sellouts for both arena dates.
Significance of Chicago for K-Pop Concerts
Chicago is considered a major concert and entertainment hub in the U.S. Some factors that make it an important tour location for K-pop groups like (G)I-DLE include:
- Large market size – The Chicago metropolitan area has a population around 9.5 million
- Great transportation hub – Easily accessible for fans across the Midwest region
- Arena venues – Sites like Wintrust Arena and United Center can accommodate 10,000+ fans
- Strong Korean population – Estimated at over 100,000 in the greater Chicago area
- K-pop radio programs – Like B96’s Sunday Night K-Pop program which promotes concerts
- Growing interest in K-pop music – More multicultural youth listening to K-pop and willing to buy tickets
Many renowned K-pop artists have held concerts in Chicago over the years including BTS, TWICE, BIGBANG, and MONSTA X. As more rookie groups like (G)I-DLE also add Chicago to their tours, it shows the city’s importance for reaching U.S. K-pop audiences.
Growth of (G)I-DLE’s Fanbase in Chicago
Although (G)I-DLE is still early in their career compared to veteran K-pop groups, their fanbase in Chicago and internationally has been growing rapidly. Some signs of their growth in Chicago include:
- Selling out both tour dates very quickly
- Having their Chicago concert dates added due to demand
- Strong social media engagement from Chicago-based fans
- Increasing attendance and fan chants at their concerts here
- More local media and radio stations covering their visit
- Higher Chicago membership in their official fan club Neverland
If (G)I-DLE continues gaining popularity at this pace, they may be capable of headlining even larger stadium venues on future tours through Chicago. Fans are also eager to see them perform more solo concerts in the city after this successful first series of shows in 2022.
Conclusion
In summary, while (G)I-DLE does not permanently reside in Chicago, the group’s 2022 world tour concerts offered fans great opportunities to see them perform in the city. Chicago provided a welcoming environment with engaged local media coverage, a large fanbase, and prime venue locations. Though (G)I-DLE did not have publicized appearances outside their concerts, fans still hoped to possibly spot them exploring Chicago’s famous sights and attractions when they weren’t rehearsing. The sold-out shows highlighted the rising popularity of (G)I-DLE in the U.S. and Chicago’s importance as a tour stop for reaching American K-pop audiences. As the group continues to grow, more concerts in Chicago will likely occur to meet future fan demand.