BTS fans lined up at Pier 17 for a chance to hear the iconic band.
Photo by Amanda Moses
The East River waterfront shimmered with anticipation all day Monday as The Rooftop at Pier 17 glowed brightly amongst the Brooklyn Bridge backdrop for an exclusive Spotify event featuring global K-pop juggernauts BTS. But outside the barricades, below the rooftop stage, over a sea of devoted fans lingering in the rain and cold, hoping for even the faintest echo of the group they had waited four years to see.
More than a thousand fans gathered along Pier 17, so much so that the NYPD was called in to monitor the crowd. Many arrived before sunrise as word spread that just 1,000 top listeners in New York City would be granted access to the coveted SpotifyxSWIMSIDE event. For BTS’ fiercely loyal fanbase, known as ARMY, the promise of a rare, intimate appearance was enough to brave rain, wind, and uncertainty.
By early morning, the line had already snaked around the South Street Seaport, with fans bundled in blankets and ponchos over carefully styled BTS-themed outfits. Umbrellas dotted the queue as hopeful attendees clutched their RSVPs. All aware that even an invitation offered no guarantees. Entry would ultimately depend on who made it to the front first.
Fans braved the rain.Photo by Amanda Moses 
Fans braved the rain.Photo by Amanda Moses
Diehard ARMY like Anna Wisekal, 25, who decoded the event’s vague invitation (listing only a 5 p.m. start time and a 10038-zip code) and began staking out the location days in advance.
“BTS means everything to me,” Wisekal said. “They are my biggest inspiration and the reason why I am pursuing music. I’m an aspiring opera singer, and they completely changed my life when I found them 12 years ago. They made me love music again.”
Through tears, she added that the group’s music had helped her navigate profound personal loss. “I’ve met so many amazing people through this community because of them. Most recently, it’s helped me heal through grief. I lost two very special people in my life… so I’m happy to be here to support them and give them that same love and light.”
Not all fans were as fortunate. Several told amNewYork they were excluded despite living in the city and regularly streaming BTS, while others claimed tickets had gone to out-of-town attendees, to preferential treatment for certain individuals and content creators with large followings, sparking frustration among longtime ARMY members.
Fans waited in the rain at Pier 17 for a chance to hear BTS.Photo by Amanda Moses 
Fans waited in the rain at Pier 17 for a chance to hear BTS.Photo by Amanda Moses
Still, some fans just held out hope, even if they had to simply listen from the docks below.
A trio of young women stood near the entrance holding handmade signs, appealing to anyone with a plus-one. Nearby, Upper East Side resident Gio Luna, 31, gripped a crumpled poster reading, “Have an extra ticket? I promise to scream respectfully,” alongside a heart-shaped BTS cutout.
“Even if the chances are slim, they’re worth it,” Luna said, shivering. “They’re like good friends. I don’t know them personally, but everything I see about them—they’re just great people. And I love the music they make.”
As music pulsed from inside and lights illuminated the pier, those left outside looked up to the sky, straining to hear. For many, just being near the moment, within reach of the sound, the energy, the possibility, was enough.
BTS will perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 25.
Photo by Amanda Moses