Historic Performances: j-hope Makes History at BMO Stadium
On April 5, 2025 (April 4 PT), j-hope of BTS achieved a groundbreaking milestone by headlining Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium. This event marked him as the first solo act from Korea and Asia to perform at this prestigious venue.
The BTS fandom, known as ARMY, passionately celebrated this significant achievement, reflecting on j-hope’s remarkable journey. This milestone is particularly poignant given that over a decade ago, he and fellow BTS member Jin were actively promoting BTS through grassroots efforts, distributing flyers to invite people to their free showcase.
The Early Days: From Street Promotions to Stadium Success
Back in 2014, BTS ventured to Los Angeles to film for American Hustle Life, where they embraced a hands-on approach to promote their music. The seven members were seen handing out flyers to pedestrians, demonstrating their dedication to their craft despite being relatively new to the scene.
During their earlier days in the U.S., the group performed at The Troubadour Club in West Hollywood, which drew a modest audience of around 200 attendees. Fans have nostalgically shared footage from this period, including moments where j-hope and Jin entered a FedEx office in Los Angeles to print flyers for their shows.
Fast forward to the present: j-hope returned to LA to perform at the BMO Stadium, boasting an audience of 46,000 fans, a remarkable evolution from their beginnings. This transformation has been celebrated by ARMY members, who proudly shared clips and reminisced about the group’s humble origins.
“So freaking proud of him! Can’t think of anyone more deserving of this than the 7 BTS members.”
Celebrating the Journey
Social media has buzzed with admiration, with fans reflecting on the heartfelt path j-hope has taken in his career. Comments on platforms like X capture the essence of this journey:
“Awww!! This is beautiful! An organic journey full of love & commitment to his craft & ARMY.”
“Imagine how surreal he must feel returning to the same city where he once handed out flyers.”
Other fans expressed profound joy in witnessing the success of j-hope and the entire BTS collective.
j-hope’s HOPE ON THE STAGE Tour: A Phenomenal Success
As part of his solo endeavors, j-hope launched his first world tour, HOPE ON THE STAGE, which has seen tremendous success. Tickets for the North American leg were snatched up almost instantly on January 23, 2025, with demand causing sites like Ticketmaster to face technical difficulties due to overwhelming interest.
The pre-sale for the Asian segment of the tour was just as competitive, particularly in Manila, where online queues reached over 300,000—vastly exceeding the venue’s capacity. This overwhelming response underscores the immense popularity j-hope continues to enjoy worldwide.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Here is a comprehensive overview of the remaining shows for the HOPE ON THE STAGE tour:
- Los Angeles, California, USA:
- April 4, 2025 – BMO Stadium
- April 6, 2025 – BMO Stadium
- Manila, Philippines:
- April 12, 2025 – SM Mall of Asia Arena
- April 13, 2025 – SM Mall of Asia Arena
- Saitama, Japan:
- April 19, 2025 – Saitama Super Arena
- April 20, 2025 – Saitama Super Arena
- Singapore:
- April 26, 2025 – Singapore Indoor Stadium
- April 27, 2025 – Singapore Indoor Stadium
- Jakarta, Indonesia:
- May 3, 2025 – Indonesia Arena GBK
- May 4, 2025 – Indonesia Arena GBK
- Bangkok, Thailand:
- May 10, 2025 – Impact Arena
- May 11, 2025 – Impact Arena
- Macau, China:
- May 17, 2025 – Galaxy Arena
- May 18, 2025 – Galaxy Arena
- Taipei, Taiwan:
- May 24, 2025 – NTSU Arena
- May 25, 2025 – NTSU Arena
- Osaka, Japan:
- May 31, 2025 – Kyocera Dome Osaka
- June 1, 2025 – Kyocera Dome Osaka
Fans looking to purchase tickets for j-hope’s HOPE ON THE STAGE are encouraged to do so through official outlets like Ticketmaster and Live Nation. To avoid scams, it’s advisable to consult BIGHIT MUSIC’s website for a list of authorized resellers.