[theqoo] AESPA, ’49$ USD’ EVEN BARGAIN-PRICED TICKETS, UNSOLD SEATS REMAIN FOR THEIR NORTH AMERICAN TOUR… HIGHLIGHTING STARK GAP IN POPULARITY COMPARED TO KATSEYE

As the groups aespa and KATSEYE tour North America during the same period, a distinct gap in ticket-selling power has emerged between them. Even for shows where tickets started as low as $49.50 (USD, aespa still had a double-digit percentage of unsold seats; in contrast, KATSEYE, performing at the same venues with ticket prices more than eight times higher than aespa’s, recorded an unsold seat rate of less than 4%.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, TenAsia directly checked seat sales via Ticketmaster for the concerts held by aespa and KATSEYE in Los Angeles, Belmont Park (New York), and Atlanta. These three cities are key stops for K-pop groups touring North America. Notably, both aespa and KATSEYE are performing at the same venues in Belmont Park and Atlanta.

The average starting ticket price for Katseye’s shows is $454, roughly five times higher than aespa’s average starting price of $94. Meanwhile, the rate of unsold seats was about four times higher for aespa than for Katseye; Katseye’s unsold seat rate averaged just 2.2%, compared to 8.5% for aespa. In other words, Katseye is selling more tickets despite the higher prices.

Group KATSEYE Belmont Park Ticket Sales Status

The most striking contrast was observed in New York. Ticket sales data shows that for aespa’s concert scheduled for the 18th at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, a venue with an estimated capacity of 15,000, approximately 2,127 seats (14.2%) remain unsold. The lowest ticket price for this show is $49.50. In contrast, KATSEYE is holding two shows at the same venue over two days, the 24th and 25th. Only 562 seats (3.7%) remain for the first day, and 551 seats (3.7%) for the second. The lowest ticket price for KATSEYE’s shows is $416 on both days; despite prices being more than eight times higher than aespa’s, the unsold seat ratio is only about one-quarter of aespa’s.

Similar results were seen in Atlanta and Los Angeles. For aespa’s concert on the 24th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta (estimated capacity of around 15,000), 955 seats (6.3%) remain unsold, with the lowest ticket price set at $140.50. Meanwhile, for KATSEYE’s concert at the same venue on October 15, the lowest ticket price is $421, yet only 246 seats (approximately 1.6%) remain unsold.

Meanwhile, for aespa’s concert on October 3 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles (estimated capacity of approximately 14,000 seats), 689 tickets (4.9%) remained unsold. The lowest ticket price was $92. In contrast, KATSEYE’s concerts at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles (estimated capacity of approximately 15,000 seats), scheduled for November 21 and 22, are nearing sell-out status, with only 122 tickets (0.8%) and 130 tickets (0.9%) left for the first and second days, respectively. The lowest prices for these shows were $510 and $506, more than five times higher than the starting price for aespa’s tickets.

Viewed in isolation, aespa’s ticket sales performance is not poor. However, when considering how demand fluctuates with price, the gap between them and the competing group appears distinct. This is interpreted as the result of differing strategies; while aespa has built a solid fandom centered in Asia, KATSEYE is considered to possess overwhelming popularity for their U.S. arena tour, driven by a localization strategy.

1. So it really is cheap and has plenty of open spots, huh? But in that case, shouldn’t we check out what KATSEYE is like and compare the two? ㅋㅋ

2, Wow, I’m usually pretty oblivious to this sort of thing, but I get the vibe just from the title. The pattern never changes

3. In Korea, they aren’t even half as good as aespa. What are they supposed to do about North America?

4. HYBE really never changes, tsk. Why are they so obsessed with aespa?

5. I don’t even know who the KATSEYE members are, f*ckㅋㅋ Stop lumping them together, you crazy f*ckers

6. HYBE again…

7. HYBE-yahㅠㅠㅠㅠ… are you going absolutely crazy obsessing over aespa?

8. Is this the right price? I checked the ticket prices for aespa’s Toronto concert the year before last, and they were way more expensive than the Korean concert

9. I knew KATSEYE was popular, but I had wondered why, until I realized they happened to be touring together…

10. Come to think of it, it seems like aespa is actually thriving thanks to HYBEㅋㅋ They’re like the “secret SM stans”

11. An article on-brand with HYBE

12. KATSEYE is focused entirely on the overseas market so are they really making a comparison like that?

13. Low-HYBE

14. So, does that mean you can see an aespa concert in the US for around 60,000 won?

Why is it so cheap? Are the seats really bad?

15. Seems like they still want to step on aespaㅠ You can’t