Stray Kids Find Their Place in the New York Hall of Fame

Written by Diana

A pulse of excitement ricocheted through Queens on the morning of June 18. Concertgoers clad on the 7 train were easy to spot with their clear stadium bags and SKZOO keychains on their outfits. As crowds in a sea of red and black converged on the plaza outside of Citi Field, anticipation hung over the stadium like a thunderous storm cloud.

STAY Gather at Citi Field, Photo Credit Leo S.

STAYs – as the fandom of K-pop group Stray Kids is affectionately called – had been awaiting the DominATE Tour to hit North America since it kicked off in Asia last August. Lines snaked around the stadium parking lot as those with the VIP package waited to check in, while others braved the extreme heat to buy merchandise. Some fans walked up and down the lines handing out freebies – in K-pop fandom culture, these are free gifts made by fans and they range from photocards to bracelets, and even handheld fans. Most were accompanied by a piece of candy, which was a sweet relief in the midst of the impending summer heat.

Those with the VIP packages were let in ahead of everyone else to attend the group’s soundcheck, and then the doors officially opened to the general crowd around 5:30 PM. As showtime neared, the crowd began to light up in red as everyone’s lightsticks automatically synchronized with the show’s effects. The show officially kicked off with a boisterous display of showmanship, before the group themselves even got on stage. A backup dancer wielding what appeared to be a lightsaber twirled around a platform, while two others flanked on either side of the stage banging Korean drums on the screens. Flag bearers lined the stage shortly thereafter, and a procession marched down the extended stage.

JYP ENTERTAINMENT, Sarah Waxberg

It was an introduction fit for royalty, and it was even more fitting when Stray Kids finally appeared onstage; their first costumes for the night resembled princely attire. As fireworks shot up into the sky (the first of many throughout the night), the group started off their massive setlist with “Mountains,” a conquering anthem perfect for a stadium show. The octet – made up of leader Bang Chan and members Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. – then proceeded to perform back-to-back high-energy songs; the audience was properly pumped up less than an hour into the concert. 

While the boys went backstage for their first costume change, an elaborate group of dancers took the stage to perform a medley of Stray Kids’ choreography. It was the highest number of dancers seen at any concert, and made the collective feel like a proper celebration of how far Stray Kids had come. The units were up next. “Truman” (Felix and Han) and “Burnin’ Tires” (Changbin and I.N.) were energetic tunes that had the crowd jumping; the latter with Changbin specifically imploring the audience to repeat the song’s hook several times after the performance was over. Bang Chan and Hyunjin’s “Escape” shifted the tone to a sensual, post-apocalyptic plea for freedom that kept the audience engaged as though they were watching a film. But it was Lee Know and Seungmin’s “Cinema” that truly stood out among the unit performances. Although the only slow-paced track, the ballad gave the duo’s vocals their chance to shine, especially Seungmin’s beautiful vibrato. The crowd appeared like a turquoise ocean as everyone’s lightsticks were set to a pretty blue color. As the song neared its end, fireworks shot up into the darkening sky. The screens then displayed a backdrop of the audience, as a credit roll of names ascended over it. They were names of actual STAYs in the crowd, and Seungmin called out one name later on to address that particular fan (Sophie, of which there were most likely many Sophies in attendance).

As the boys continued with their booming setlist – with a brief respite during the performances of slower songs “Lonely St.” and “Cover Me” (the latter once again blessed with Seungmin’s standout vocals, and causing emotions to ring high) – one performance stuck out so much that fans could not stop talking about it for days to come. “LALALALA,” the title track from their 8th mini album, is a fan favorite for its preceding fan chant and infectious energy. A performance of the song had been witnessed during their Lollapalooza set in 2024, but this was something truly special. As fans were breathlessly entranced by the synchronized crowd while they all jumped and danced together, there were pyrotechnic effects and fireworks accompanying the spectacle. A sense of unity like never experienced before swept through the crowd; as the lyrics stated, it truly did feel like they would not stop dancing. It was the definition of lightning in a bottle – that moment would never exist again, and how lucky they all were to experience it together.

The encore proceeded several songs later, with the boys being rolled on carts around the length of the stadium, much to the delight of the fans sitting in the lower bowl. This gave those fans an opportunity to interact much closer with the members, who were enthusiastically dancing, completing hand hearts, and reacting to signs. Once the members returned to the stage, the mood shifted as they delved into “Blind Spot” and the self-titled “Stray Kids” – both songs that champion how far the group has come, and all their accomplishments. It felt appropriate that it was followed with a surprise fan project; a video highlighting the gratitude of STAYs from New York and all over the world.

Photo by JYP Entertainment

The members closed out their set with “MIROH,” including fireworks, an EDM-inspired beat and a “Stray Kids” chant per chorus that has become a staple of all their shows. In pure K-Pop fashion, the boys pretended to leave, only to return for their real encore of “Chk Chk Boom (Festival Version).” This remix of their hit track turned the concert into a rave for three minutes, with some boys getting close to the fans at barricade and others splashing the nearest crowd with their water bottles.

Every stop on the North American leg had gotten a surprise encore track at the very end. Night 1 at Citi Field was blessed to get a performance of “Hall of Fame,” the opener on their third studio album 5-Star. Fans were ecstatic to experience this song live, as it has been a favorite of theirs for the past two years. Three hours and 35 songs later, the concert was over, and all 40,000 fans went home with happy hearts. It is worth concluding this piece with a favorite moment that actually occurred the following day. The concert was delayed due to a thunderstorm in the area, which gave Stray Kids a chance to really show that they can walk on water. Despite this, the energy was no less dampened than the day prior, and the STAYs in attendance were eager to see the group perform.

Due to the proximity of Citi Field to LaGuardia Airport, planes could be seen every so often flying above the stadium. Bang Chan pointed it out a few times the first night. On that second night, he decided to take it a step further; during the segment where the group encouraged sections of the crowd to scream, Bang Chan insisted he would not proceed until a plane passed overhead. Much to his dismay, a plane did not fly by in that moment. A few minutes later, the crowd went absolutely wild as a plane granted Bang Chan’s wishes and flew over the stadium, delighting the group. Such whimsical moments like this add to the charm that is a Stray Kids concert; a safe space for all who wander to find joy in the small things life has to offer. Here, everyone is in their Hall of Fame.