IU tickets for Oakland Arena show sell out ‘quickly’ for K-pop star’s first US tour

(KRON) — Since debuting in 2008, K-pop star Lee Ji-eun, better known by her stage name IU, has gone on nine concert tours. However, none of them have been in North America — until this year.

IU’s first world tour, “H.E.R.E.H.,” marks her first time performing in the United States, which includes one show in the Bay Area. When they first went on sale in March, tickets to see the 31-year-old K-pop superstar perform at Oakland Arena were highly sought after.

The IU show on July 30 sold out “quickly due to fan demand,” a spokesperson for event promoter Live Nation told KRON4.

Tickets for the show went on sale to the general public on March 7. On March 16, KRON4 was at Oakland Arena for K-pop group IVE’s first show in the Bay Area. There was a sign posted on the box office window (see below) making the unfortunate announcement to IU fans that tickets were sold out.

Of course, like any other concert or sporting event, there are always options to buy tickets on the secondary market. However, you have to pay a pretty penny to do so.

As of July 25, five days out from the concert, a pair of seats in Section 230 with, according to Ticketmaster, an “obstructed view” are selling for $205 each with fees included. Front-row seats are being sold for resale on Ticketmaster for more than $2,300 each.

IU is one of the biggest solo pop acts in Korea. She released her debut single “Lost Child” at the age of 15. IU has since amassed more than 32 million Instagram followers.

ITZY turns up Oakland crowd in first Bay Area concert

IU is the latest act from Korea to perform at Oakland Arena since 2018 when it hosted its first K-pop concert — a sold-out BTS show. Venue officials say there have been at least 16 K-pop concerts since.

In the past six years, Oakland Arena has become the unofficial home for K-pop concerts in the Bay Area. The venue wholeheartedly embraces it.

“We totally own that,” said Oakland Arena GM Nicole Strange. “We’re K-pop central here at Oakland Arena. We own it. We’re so proud. We reference that every time we have a show here.”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.