aespa's Brazil Concert Faces Controversy Over Empty Seats and VIP Ticket Issues

aespa's recent concert in São Paulo, Brazil, has sparked significant discussion due to a notable number of empty seats and controversial ticket sales practices. Despite attracting over 20,000 attendees, the event faced criticism for its planning, particularly the decision to drastically expand the venue size compared to previous successful concerts. This over-ambitious expansion, coupled with last-minute discounts and issues with high-priced VIP packages, led to widespread fan dissatisfaction.

Held on September 4, 2026, at the Pacaembu Arena, the concert had 28,732 available seats, but only 21,652 tickets were sold, resulting in over 7,000 empty seats and a sales rate of about 75%. Prior to the event, organizer Live Nation offered discounts of up to 60% on certain sections, upsetting fans who had purchased tickets at full price. Additionally, a top-tier VIP package, costing over 700,000 KRW (approximately 2,689 BRL, or 72% of an average Brazilian monthly income), drew complaints for a "send-off" interaction with members reportedly lasting less than five seconds. This led to local fan pages initiating legal action through Brazil's consumer protection agency, Procon, against Live Nation Brazil and SM Entertainment.

Local bloggers expressed shock at the visual discrepancy between the enthusiastic front sections and the vast empty upper tiers. Many highlighted the frustration of early bird ticket purchasers who felt devalued by the steep last-minute discounts. The consensus among commentators was that while aespa's performance was flawless, the organizers' miscalculation of local market conditions and over-expansion of the venue size, driven by the memory of a sold-out 8,000-seat show in 2023, ultimately overshadowed the group's achievement and caused unnecessary controversy for the artists.