Fans who attended SEVENTEEN‘s recent Phillippine concert have called out Live Nation PH for creating dangerous situations at the show.
SEVENTEEN | Pledis Entertainment
As part of their Follow tour, SEVENTEEN have performed across Asia for the last few months. Their latest stops were in the Phillippines, two nights of concerts in Bulacan.
| Pledis Entertainment
Fans were thrilled for the group to return, but due to actions by the local promoter, many say the first concert was unpleasant and dangerous with no fault to the group.
According to fans at the event, the troubles began early in the day, with LiveNation sending out reminders of the queuing policies, something some fans say should have happened earlier due to potential language issues.
ATTENTION CARAT!
NO RE-ENTRY after ticket validation is STRICTLY ENFORCED, as stated in the Queuing Reminders found below your Queuing Number. pic.twitter.com/sP2LNsTx69
— Live Nation PH (@livenationph) January 13, 2024
reminders shouldve been announced earlier para there’s enough time for clarifications and para na rin makatulong mga fans to widen ur reach and really remind everyone. ++ not all intl fans can easily understand english and it takes time for them to translate reminders https://t.co/1wpLqSc0EI
— ji (@miminify) January 13, 2024
There was also confusion about when and where the no-reentry policy would apply, as there were multiple steps to enter the venue.
This was tweeted when fans were already in line for entry and strapping, something else that was an issue before the show began. Fans waited in unmoving lines for hours, which was a concern because of deadlines set for being able to attend the soundcheck.
THIS IS THE WORST LIVE NATION BRANCH EVER. I HAVE ATTENDED SHOWS ALL OVERSEAS THAT WAS HANDLED BY OTHER LIVE NATION BRANCHES PERO ALL OF THEM WERE ORGANIZED AND LINES WERE HANDLED WELL. I HAVE BEEN IN LINE SINCE FREAKING 11 AM AND ITS CURRENTLY 3:00PM
— maine will see svt on jan 2024 (@hobigyunjin) January 13, 2024
our line didnt move for 2 hours. from 10:30 to 12:30 hindi kami umusog
may lumapit na livenation marshall to explain that she made a line for us here because there were too many ppl in standing
(video: traffic/security calling for a live nation staff or representative) pic.twitter.com/wcBOGr34J4
— zach / joan (@vernvevo) January 13, 2024
1) said strapping until 2 pm only but most sc / floor ticket holders are still on queue. it’s 2:07 now
2) 3:30 is the soundcheck, sc holders are still not inside
3) will the queuing numbers be followed? & if we missed the soundcheck?
4) we don’t have time to get caratzone alr https://t.co/gtxvR6gqgL
— 윤정한친구 윤쩡 ♡ (@sevengasm) January 13, 2024
Other incidents were reported, including one involving a falling sign.
shoddy construction — you are literally endangering carats. shame on you, lnph @livenationph #SEVENTEENinBULACAN pic.twitter.com/ZYY50pfueA
— x (@mrchdaisies) January 13, 2024
It seems the sound check began around the time it was stated to begin, but due to issues with the lines, fans made it inside after it began.
A bit late enter soundcheck pic.twitter.com/EBvX2A1qbK
— Darkin (@misssheeajay) January 13, 2024
Line issues continued up until the show.
One fan reported their sister wasn’t allowed to go through the PWD (person with disabilities) entrance and was told that because she was not in a wheelchair, she could not enter. The fan reported that the staff said that “she looked okay,” a common discriminatory remark to those with invisible disabilities.
philippine arena staff wouldn’t let my sister go through their pwd access area because she wasn’t wearing a wheelchair and “she looked okay”. my sister ended up having a panic attack and ended up in a wheelchair.
what is this discrimination? @livenationph #SEVENTEENinBULACAN
— ree (@heoljisoo) January 13, 2024
Next, fans in some of the seated sections of the venue discovered that the control booth area for the concert was large and provided an obstructed view of the show.
my view from bleachers center 123. worth it ba @livenationph? pic.twitter.com/Etgf54ffAC
— ja (@jaenwwoo) January 13, 2024
Normally, these types of tickets are discounted because of the limitation in view, and LiveNation PH did block out the sections located directly behind the booths. However, due to the size of the stage and the control area, fans in the bleacher sections still had obstructed views, paying the same price as fans with a full view of the stage.
Livenation bat ang laki ng control booth ninyo. Muntikan na namin makita seventeen. pic.twitter.com/ImfLPj7Ppv
— Digsʕಠ_ಠʔ COUPJEONG (@digzzz23) January 13, 2024
The show’s standing area also reported problems. According to fans, these sections were too tightly packed together to move, and there was a significant lack of staff. Fans’ requests for water were also not fulfilled, and outside water was not allowed inside the venue.
Photos shared show the pit areas to be overly filled, with limited space near the back.
calling out @livenationph
it’s honestly so hard to breathe in floor F area. even if you want to give up your spot, it’s SO hard to move to the back because everyone is so closely packed together. i don’t know if there are too many people but there’s definitely a lack of staff pic.twitter.com/qiByqtBNCO
— gi ︎ (@leeseokminized_) January 13, 2024
to clarify, they allow water that you bought inside the ph arena (after ticket verification/strapping, may booths in the queue area). may bilihan din sa stadium lobbies. however, we couldn’t go out to buy anymore nung napuno na yung pit so we were asking for refills pero wala :(( https://t.co/0gr3VJVQHP
— gi ︎ (@leeseokminized_) January 13, 2024
SEVENTEEN’s concert was sold-out. | @manilaconcerts/X
At one point during the show, SEVENTEEN asked for water to be given out to fans out of concern. It is worth noting that temperatures were in the mid to high 80s Fahrenheit throughout the day, with humidity above 70%.
hoshi and the members noticed a carat struggling in the standing section 🥹 they took some time to make sure they got help first before proceeding with the concert pic.twitter.com/2cjDuzyHsE
— cine ᙏ̤̫ (@dadeuthannie) January 13, 2024
seventeen the best group ever they offered the water allocated for them when we told them we needed water pic.twitter.com/t2kfCncH38
— shanie ggyu! (@minwonshu) January 13, 2024
SEVENTEEN GIVING WATER TO STANDING CARATS, SINCE IT’S HOT AND CROWDED.. WE REALLY STAN THE BEST BOYS.🥹 pic.twitter.com/eSEthZJbNB
— ae. (@svthamster) January 13, 2024
Fans also expressed concerns for the next night of concerts after a row of seats separated from the concrete, with no apparent announcement from Live Nation regarding those seats made yet.
HAHAHAHA TAENA DI MAN UMABOT NG AJU NICE GUMUHO pic.twitter.com/ylwsUMkNhU
— LJ | ALE REVIEW ATM (@UaenCarat0912) January 13, 2024
While fans loved seeing SEVENTEEN again in the country, many are upset with Live Nation PH over the multiple safety failures and issues throughout the event.
feel so furious that there’s nothing else we can do but cry our frustrations here. i really wish @pledis17_STAFF are well aware of how @livenationph are also endangering people’s lives in here too w/ how shitty they are. we are just lucky someone helped and it didn’t get serious. https://t.co/kGc7VJqAfC
— (@guojeu) January 13, 2024
ultimate fuck u for ruining my supposed to be best day fuck u fuck u fuck u @livenationph i am so mad bc hindi ko dapat nararamdaman to bc i came for seventeen but u ruined it for me and everyone i swear i hope this will be the last that you will handle them
— fi is seeing svt ! (@yawnjeonghans) January 13, 2024
You know what? @livenationph will never have a character development towards carats and seventeen. It’s too obvious that this is a personal issue within the organizers because this is the 3rd concert for svt in less than 2 yrs, yet were still here. Receiving pure disappointment.
— Chiii | SVT (@hooranghaeshi) January 11, 2024
SEVENTEEN’s previous concert in the Philippines also reported issues, which you can read about below.
