[NEW YORK] Inside BTS' Grand Central Experience: How ARMY Created One-of-a-Kind Memories

As part of BTS THE CITY ARIRANG NEW YORK, Vanderbilt Hall inside Grand Central Terminal was transformed into an interactive BTS experience where fans could create personalized keepsakes during the week of the group's sold-out MetLife Stadium concerts.

Running from July 30 through August 3, the Grand Central activity centered around giving fans the opportunity to create something unique. Entry was available through advance reservations made on Weverse, with attendees entering in timed groups before making their way through the experience.

For $50 fans had the chance of customizing their own T-Shirt. Similarly to the activation in Seoul last Spring, each attendee received an exclusive BTS THE CITY T-Shirt offered in sizes small through XL before selecting from dozens of iron-on patches, graphics, album-inspired logos, lettering and tour-themed designs to create a personalized souvenir.

Holding the event inside Grand Central Terminal carried its own significance. Beyond being one of New York's most recognizable landmarks, the station already holds a special place in BTS history after the group's memorable performance of "ON" inside the terminal for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2020. Seeing the space once again filled with BTS branding and thousands of fans created a nostalgic full-circle moment for many longtime ARMY.

Before reaching the customization area, visitors were welcomed by a display of outfits worn by BTS during their historic LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF concerts at Wembley Stadium which were custom designed by Dior's Kim Jones. For longtime ARMYs, the outfits being on display served as a reminder of one of the group’s most memorable stadium performances.

Although every attendee started with the same shirt in either black or white, no two finished designs looked exactly alike as there were many different combinations they could choose. Some of the most popular patches seemed to be the New York staples such as the Statue of Liberty and the Broadway sign. Furthermore, when it came to the song titles that attendees could choose alongside their three city patches, staff shared how ever since the group's Grammy decision "they don’t know 'bout us" had become a very popular choice.

Throughout the event, fans carefully compared layouts with friends, debated which logos best represented their favorite BTS song off the new album and often helped complete strangers decide between different patches. The customization process became just as much about interacting with fellow ARMY as it was about designing the shirt itself.

Speaking to K-POPIT while decorating their shirts, sisters Hannah and Nina shared their thoughts on the Metlife shows saying that while they had a lot of fun, the transportation and organization of the event could have gone a lot better. Originally from Florida, they had previously attended the Tampa concerts at the beginning of the tour and claimed that both organization and transportation had been dealt with in a better way.

Throughout the day, Vanderbilt Hall remained filled with excitement as attendees admired one another's finished shirts, exchanged compliments and posed for photos before heading off to the next BTS THE CITY location as it was the last day of the event. Even commuters passing through the terminal frequently stopped to watch the activity, many curiously asking staff or attendees what the celebration was for.

Overall for many visitors, Grand Central became one stop in a much larger journey that included Top of the Rock, ARMY MADANG at the Korean Cultural Center and additional BTS-themed locations across the city. The customization process, the picking of the patches and the overall community atmosphere brought this event as the perfect closing for a lot of ARMYs BTS-filled weekend.