Ever since it was confirmed that TWICE (트와이스) would be performing in Malaysia as part of their “THIS IS FOR” world tour, fans have been overjoyed, having waited six years for the group’s return. Earlier this week, Live Nation Malaysia officially announced that the concert will take place in October at the National Hockey Stadium.
Although the initial response was positive, concerns have since emerged over the choice of venue. Fans took to Twitter to voice their disappointment and share suggestions for improvements. Here’s the story:
Malaysian ONCEs (fans of TWICE) responded to the concert announcement from JYP Entertainment and Live Nation Malaysia on Twitter, with many voicing disappointment at the choice of venue. They argued that the National Hockey Stadium, with a maximum capacity of 12,000, is too small compared with the group’s previous concert at Axiata Arena, which drew about 16,000 fans. Even their cancelled show at Malawati Stadium in 2018 has a capacity of 13,000.
Some fans went as far as to accuse the agency of deliberately undermining TWICE’s tour by booking a smaller venue. Many pointed out that Nayeon (나연)’s special appearance at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur last year alone attracted more than 500 fans, which they argued demonstrates that a full group concert would draw a far larger crowd. Others shared their experiences of attending 2NE1’s comeback concert at the same venue earlier this year.
Fans also urged JYPE and Live Nation Malaysia to reconsider the venue, suggesting alternatives such as Bukit Jalil National Stadium or, at the very least, to add extra dates to the KL concert. Of course, some fans defended the choice of venue, suggesting it was a safer option and noting that larger venues may already have been fully booked for the concert date. It’s worth noting that GOT7’s (갓세븐) Jackson Wang (왕잭슨) will perform at Axiata Arena that same night as TWICE’s concert.
Others speculated that the management of outdoor stadiums might have wanted to prevent damage to the grass caused by stage preparations and large crowds. At the time of writing, the organisers have yet to respond to fans’ calls to change the venue or add an additional date. However, with less than two months to prepare, a change of venue appears unlikely. Let’s hope that we will get an extra date, though.
What are your thoughts on TWICE performing at the National Hockey Stadium?
