Over the past several hours, the BTS fan community in Chile has been thrown into turmoil following reports from local media stating that Chile's Ministry of Sports, through the National Sports Institute (IND), had decided not to allow the use of the National Stadium (Estadio Nacional) for BTS's three concerts scheduled to take place on October 14, 16, and 17.

The news came as a ѕнσ¢к to fans because DG Medios and HYBE had already finalized their plans, opened ticket sales, and even added an extra concert date due to overwhelming demand from fans. According to Chilean media, the agreement between DG Medios and the stadium's management was reportedly terminated following the authorities' decision, even though the contract was reportedly worth around 1 billion Chilean pesos, with the payment set to be transferred directly to the state treasury.

In an official statement sent to the press, the National Sports Institute (IND) said it did not approve the use of the Coliseo Central area of Estadio Nacional for BTS's concerts due to technical and operational criteria. According to IND, the stage installation process would require approximately nine days, while the 360-degree stage could affect the hybrid grαѕѕ pitch. These factors could disrupt the scheduled matches of the Chile national football team, Universidad de Chile, as well as the Telethon charity event that had already been scheduled.

After the news spread, a wave of controversy quickly erupted across social media. Many fans pointed out that the reasons given were unreasonable because several artists before BTS, such as Coldplay and Bad Bunny, had used the entire stadium without encountering any obstacles. ARMY also questioned the authorities' real motive behind refusing to allow BTS to use the stadium.

As the controversy reached its peak, the media turned their microphones toward government officials, demanding an explanation for the local public. In response to the growing public outrage, Chilean Interior Minister Alvarado stated: "Alternative venues within the vicinity of the National Stadium have been offered, and the matter is currently under evaluation and discussion."

However, the statement did not help ease fans' anger and instead pushed the outrage to a new peak. Even with the proposal of alternative stadiums, fans refused to accept the idea because Estadio Nacional is the largest stadium in Chile, with a concert capacity of approximately 60,000 to 65,000 people. It has also hosted large-scale concerts by world-renowned artists including The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Iron Maiden, Rod Stewart, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Dua Lipa, Los Prisioneros, and Los Bunkers.

Fans emphasized that BTS is a stadium act whose production scale, stage design, and au∂ιєnce size rank among the largest in the world. Moving the concerts to a smaller stadium would not only significantly reduce capacity and prevent thousands of people from attending, but would also directly affect the scale of the production and the overall quality of the show.

Representatives of ARMY Chile stressed that they are not asking for any special treatment. What fans want is for the venue that was announced and sold from the very beginning to be respected, while urging the authorities to explore every possible solution so that BTS can perform on a stage that matches the scale of the tour.

It was not only fans who spoke out, as several Chilean politicians also began voicing their opinions. Congressman Alejandro Bernales, who represents the Los Lagos Region, declared: "As a member of the Culture Committee, we will demand that the date of BTS's concert at the National Stadium be respected. The decision to deny this event from taking place will have a negative impact on both our economy and Chile's reputation as a host of major events."

As the Interior Minister's response was shared across social media, another wave of reactions from fans quickly followed:

- In addition to the enormous cultural impact, it is estimated that these concerts could generate US$53 million for the Chilean economy, benefiting tourism, hospitality, gastronomy, commerce, and thousands of workers. We hope that dialogue will prevail and that Chile will not lose an opportunity of this magnitude

- This is not a game to us. The National Stadium is the most appropriate venue for BTS's concerts this October

- Just put soмєтнing down to protect the grαѕѕ. BTS and other stadiums have used protective flooring to prevent damage to the field! Stadiums in other countries have hosted their concerts and are still holding football matches afterward, yet no one has made as much of a fuss as Chile has

- This is a complete lack of respect, @dgmedios and @INDchileoficial. Just months before three sold-out concert dates, with fans from every region of Chile and from abroad already having paid for flights, reserved accommodations near the stadium, and planned their transportation, you come out with this refusal

- Smaller venue means some Army’s ticket will be invalid. Or the govt thinks BTS will extend more dates, which means more $$ for the city. But Army bought airline tickets and made hotel reservations. Guess this is the last time BTS goes to Chile

- Legit question: Can alternative locations accommodate the 60k+ au∂ιєnce for 3 days? Is transportation available? What about safety? What fines will the Chilean government be responsible for if all requirements cannot be met, beyond the mαѕѕive ℓσѕт revenue from a BTS event?

- How embarrαѕѕing. This is the kind of thing that only happens in Latin αмєяι¢α. I'm convinced there's money involved behind the scenes. Bad Bunny had already held concerts there without any issues