BTS begins the North American tour 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN NORTH AMERICA' in Tampa, USA.

According to the agency Big Hit Music, BTS will hold the first concerts of the tour on the 25th, 26th, and 28th (local time) at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. The tour is scheduled to include a total of 31 performances in 12 North American cities, including El Paso, Mexico City, and New York. BTS's concerts in the United States mark the first in about four years since 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE' held in Las Vegas in April 2022.

Tickets sold out immediately upon release for all shows, and additional performances have been scheduled in Tampa, Stanford, and Las Vegas. The city of Tampa, the starting point of the North American tour, has been filled with a festive atmosphere, and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared a video of the old city hall decorated with purple lights on her personal social media. She also announced that city bridges will be illuminated in purple from the 25th to the 29th.

The city of Tampa announced plans to install large booths for official BTS merchandise sales and to control roads near the venue in preparation for the influx of visitors. Tampa International Airport added to the festive mood by displaying a welcome message in the main terminal.

Local broadcaster FOX 13 Tampa Bay scheduled 'K-Pop: The Seoul Reach' on the 25th and 26th, focusing on the global influence of K-pop led by BTS, the spread of Korean culture, and the presence of the fandom ARMY. 10 Tampa Bay News projected that the concerts will bring an economic effect of approximately $800 to $900 million (about 1.2 to 1.3 trillion KRW) to the Tampa area.

Following the Tampa concerts, BTS will continue the North American tour on May 2nd and 3rd at El Paso's Sun Bowl Stadium. This concert will be the first solo concert by a Korean artist held at this venue.