South Korean pop band Blackpink’s concerts over the weekend in Kaohsiung helped draw large crowds to local night markets, the Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday.
The two concerts on Saturday and Sunday at Kaohsiung National Stadium drew more than 90,000 people.
The city government offered NT$50 vouchers to spend locally to concertgoers who showed their ticket stubs.
Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung Economic Development Bureau via CNA
Liouhe Night Market (六合夜市) management committee head Chuang Chi-chang (莊其章) said that crowds over the weekend surged at about 10pm and the market remained packed until 1:30am.
“Almost all the seats were filled,” Chuang said.
Night market stall owners had stocked up in expectation of an increased number of customers, he said.
“We saw sales double,” he said.
Night market vendors are also looking forward to upcoming performances by Taiwanese rock band Mayday (五月天); Taiwanese pop diva A-mei (阿妹), also known as Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹); and the Megaport Festival, he added.
Mayday is to play four days of concerts in Kaohsiung from Wednesday next week to April 2, while A-mei is to play events on Friday and Saturday next week, April 3 to 5, April 8 to 9 and April 14 to 16. This year’s Megaport Festival is on April 1 and 2.
Rueifong Night Market (瑞豐夜市) official Ho Jung-pin (何榮彬) said the market experienced a 20 to 30 percent increase in sales over the weekend.
Shinkuchan Shopping District (新崛江商圈) manager Yang Hsiang-ming (楊翔茗) said that stores had received many of the city vouchers over the two days, giving them a boost in sales.
Store owners are also looking forward to holidays next month and crowds from upcoming concerts and events, he said.
Kaohsiung Economic Development Bureau Director-General Liao Tai-hsiang (廖泰翔) said the city government expects the series of concerts this month and next month to draw at least 400,000 visitors, which would benefit the 45 businesses partnering with a government program and more than 100 stall owners in night markets.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) on Sunday thanked Blackpink and their fans in a post on Facebook.
He also thanked the personnel who helped direct crowds at public transportation facilities after the concerts, helping to clear out the areas in less than 90 minutes.
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