Fans gathered in large numbers for the final leg of Blackpink’s world tour in Hong Kong, and local shops reported a business increase of approximately 30 per cent due to the influx of concertgoers.
On Saturday, Kai Tak Sports Park transformed into a vibrant sea of pink as attendees dressed in matching outfits and waved the band’s signature light sticks, filling the venue and nearby shopping centres.
“It feels more familiar watching [Blackpink] at home. The atmosphere here is great,” 29-year-old Matt Chan said.
Saturday’s show marked the first of three concerts by the South Korean girl group in Hong Kong, the final stop on their Deadline world tour that began last July.
As early as Friday, the complex was already awash with the group’s signature pink hue, with lights illuminating buildings while giant posters and rows of flags adorned the area.
Many of Saturday’s concertgoers were mainland Chinese fans who had travelled to the city to see their idols, with some saying they planned to stay a few extra days in Hong Kong.
Fans flock in from all over
Flora Hu, 11, flew in from Beijing with her mother, classmate Ruby Tao and Tao’s mother to see Blackpink perform live.
Hu, sporting a tour cap, said her mother had bought her several items of the official merchandise, including a doll, a lightstick case and some clothes.
“I want to see Jennie the most tonight,” Hu said, clutching a fan bearing an image of her favourite Blackpink member.
Hu’s mother, who declined to give her name, said she had spent about 3,000 yuan (US$430) on Blackpink merchandise for her daughter.
“It’s hard to expect how much to spend. Kids chasing after their favourite stars is a bottomless pit,” she laughed.
The pair were due to return to Beijing on Sunday, so the 11-year-old could be ready for school on Monday.
Fifteen-year-old Jenny Du also flew in from the city of Dalian, Liaoning province, to attend the concert with her mother.
Du said she felt emotional as this would be her first time seeing Blackpink live.
“I chose the Hong Kong show because the tour takes place during school days,” Du said.
Her mother, who also declined to provide her name, said they had arrived on Friday and planned to spend four to five days in the city.
“I expect to spend less than 10,000 yuan for this trip,” she said.
Vibrant show
Saturday’s show opened with an energetic performance of their 2019 hit “Kill This Love” and 2022’s “Pink Venom”, as the band emerged from the centre of the stage.
Greeting the 50,000-strong crowd, the group’s main singer, Rosé, said “Hello, I’m Rosé” in Cantonese, while her bandmates Jennie, Lisa and Jisoo spoke in English.
During the show, the stadium became a sea of undulating fuchsia and cyan, as fans’ handheld lightsticks glowed in preset colour formations.
The concert featured Blackpink’s biggest hits from their 10-year career, along with individual segments highlighting each member’s solo work.
During a break, Rosé and Lisa told Hong Kong fans in Cantonese that they were “the world’s number one”.
Rosé added once again, in Cantonese, that she had missed her fans a lot.
Before her solo segment, the Australian-raised Rosé took a bite of an egg waffle on camera – a tradition she has kept throughout the tour, sampling local snacks before each performance.
The economic impact
Local fans attending the sold-out concert said they were thrilled to have secured official tickets.
Ticket sales for popular concerts in Hong Kong are often a challenge, with fans competing against bots and crowded online queues that fill up within seconds of tickets going on sale.
Chan, 29, said he had already attended the band’s concert in Bangkok last year but decided to try his luck for the Hong Kong shows as well.
“I managed to get tickets, so here I am,” said Chan, who is attending the concert with three friends.
Joyce Chan, 28, who works in a bank, said her friend had managed to secure tickets for both of them.
“I wanted to see the show because YG [entertainment agency] said this would be the last group activity for a while. It’s also thanks to my friend who managed to get tickets,” she said.
The bank employee added that it was a pleasant surprise to walk towards Kai Tak Stadium to the sound of Blackpink songs blasting from the Kai Tak MTR station.
Before the concert, the malls beside the stadium buzzed with energy as fans packed restaurants and queued at official merchandise stores.
Yvonne Chan, owner of Dayvi Gelateria at Kai Tak Mall 2, told the South China Morning Post that business was 20 to 30 per cent stronger than on a usual weekend.
“Partnering with the fan club has helped us a lot, as they decorated the store for us and we promoted each other,” she said.
Her gelato shop offered free Blackpink souvenirs to customers who bought a “Blackpink gelato” cone – a mix of sesame and strawberry flavours.
However, Chan noted that the official merchandise store in the mall had diverted some foot traffic, as many fans spent most of their time queuing for purchases rather than stopping for a snack.
Several official merchandise shops across the complex – from those outside the stadium to Blackpink member Rosé’s solo merchandise store near the mall – were packed with loyal fans queuing for souvenirs.
A woman surnamed Ho told the South China Morning Post she was queuing for Rosé merchandise after her daughter had gone inside the stadium to watch the show.
“I had already bought Lisa’s merchandise two days ago. Now that my daughter is inside, I’m queuing for some more Rosé goods,” Ho said.
The beautician said she had spent around HK$9,000 (US$1,150) in total for the concert, including two tickets for her daughter and younger sister, along with an assortment of official merchandise.
