Thousands of Fans Line Up from Dawn as Stray Kids Concert Concludes at San Francisco Oracle Park

San Francisco Oracle Park witnessed an unprecedented scene on Wednesday, May 28, due to a Stray Kids concert. Hundreds of fans arrived early in the morning to queue up and wait for the performance, with some starting to prepare to enter as early as 6 a.m. Stray Kids’ fans are known as “Stay,” and they flew from various parts of the country to San Francisco. They were willing to wait for hours just to get through VIP gates and fought to secure good spots in the pit area. In an interview with a local media outlet, fan Astra Jeong said, “They inspire so many people; they are the reason we are all here, and we all love their music.” She added, “Their music is extremely energetic, and the lyrics mean a lot to many people.” The fans’ enthusiasm was also evident in their outfits. Among those dressed in red and black, some treated the concert like a fashion show. One fan wore a red fur coat that reached the floor, while another attended wearing a cowboy hat. Fans spent time hanging dolls around their waists, trading accessories, and trading Stray Kids trading cards. Two fans from Utah even made 200 handmade earrings and brought them to distribute among everyone in a short amount of time. The appeal of Stray Kids, as emphasized by the fans, lay in their musical quality and their relationship with their supporters. Fan Alivia Johnson said, “They have gone through many difficulties from the beginning until now but kept pushing forward, and it’s amazing that they have grown to such a large scale.” Another fan, Breanna Snider, said through tears, “They helped me find a way to express myself,” while another fan, Kaybre Blake, explained, “Stray Kids are highly involved with their fandom. Most celebrities aren’t like that. They truly want you to feel like family.” Businesses around Oracle Park were also affected by the concert. Bar Via, located across from the stadium, transformed into a K-pop pop-up store selling posters, magazines, and trading cards, while nearby cafes and restaurants were much busier than usual due to the unexpected surge in traffic. Stray Kids’ concert started at 7:30 p.m., marking another event that demonstrated K-pop’s growing influence in the Bay Area. Following Blackpink’s sold-out concert at Oracle Park in 2023, this Stray Kids concert further confirmed the region’s enthusiasm for K-pop.