The first night of 'BTS WORLD TOUR IN NORTH AMERICA', which began shortly after 8 p.m. on August 1, drew a crowd of approximately 78,000 attendees. The parking lots at MetLife Stadium had already filled with cars hours before the concert started. Around the venue, the atmosphere was festival-like as fans carrying their purple ARMY Bombs gathered to take commemorative photos together.

This marked BTS's first performance at MetLife Stadium in approximately seven years and two months (since 2019) as part of a world tour. The concert kicked off explosively with 'Hooligan,' 'Aliens,' and 'Run BTS,' before continuing with a lineup of iconic нιтs and newer songs, including 'FAKE LOVE,' 'MIC Drop,' 'IDOL,' 'Butter,' and 'Dynamite.' MetLife Stadium quickly transformed into a mαѕѕive sea of cheers as deafening chants echoed throughout every section of the venue.

Although the first night's concert was ultimately a success, one notable issue could not be overlooked: the show started nearly 30 minutes later than originally scheduled. According to numerous ARMYs who attended the event in person, the delay stemmed from a series of organizational and crowd management problems outside the stadium. Many even commented that if BTS had not delivered such an outstanding performance, it could have ended up being one of the worst concert experiences they had ever had.

One of the biggest issues repeatedly mentioned by fans was the chaotic traffic surrounding MetLife Stadium. Despite many ARMYs leaving home hours in advance, severe congestion on roads leading to the venue meant that a large number of concertgoers did not arrive until just before the show was scheduled to begin.

Adding to the frustration, public transportation was overcrowded, while calling an Uber was nearly impossible because drivers kept canceling rides due to traffic or demanding higher fares. Even fans who had already made it into the parking lots remained trapped for an extended period. One concertgoer wrote in frustration, "We've been stuck in our parking lot for almost an hour now. No one is directing traffic at all."

In addition to the traffic issues, MetLife Stadium's entry management also came under heavy criticism. According to many ARMYs, they lined up as soon as staff allowed them to do so, but the venue then failed to begin processing fans into the stadium. One fan questioned, "MetLife better do better for tomorrow because why have us in line from 2:45 waiting to come in at 4:30?"

Meanwhile, as the scheduled start time approached, thousands of people were still crowded outside the gates. When the clock struck 8 p.m. EDT, X was flooded with posts such as "There's still so many people outside MetLife. I don't anticipate this starting on time at all," "This is a fυ¢кing mess," and "Will Kirk make it in on time?"

The stadium staff were also criticized for their lack of professionalism. One ARMY said they barely made it to their seat before BTS took the stage and described the experience at the HCL Gate as "a nightmare." According to numerous fan accounts, security procedures were inconsistent, staff members appeared unfamiliar with the guidelines, and employees were repeatedly asking one another how certain situations should be handled. One attendee recalled, "MetLife is a mess because they said that food is allowed and security is asking each other 'Yo, is food allowed?' and they're saying 'Uhhh, up to you.'" There were even warnings circulating online that some staff members continued selling hot dogs despite reportedly knowing the food had already spoiled.

Meanwhile, many ARMYs also said their experience while waiting in line was dampened after realizing that a significant number of people in the crowd were not actually ARMYs. Some appeared to be casual or new fans, while others openly made toxic comments about BTS and ARIRANG. According to ARMYs, some people confused 'MIC Drop' with 'Run BTS,' while others asked, "What's 134340?" or made remarks such as "Why is xxx's voice like that?", "I can't understand when xxx is singing," or "Xxx should be the leader."

All of these issues negatively impacted the overall fan experience to some extent. Following the first night's concert, MetLife Stadium faced widespread criticism across social media, with many calling on the venue to significantly improve its event management, traffic coordination, and crowd control ahead of the second show. Fans also shared various tips for those attending Night 2, including arriving much earlier, bringing food in advance, and using alternative routes that were expected to be less congested.