Stray Kids Dominate Seattle with Electrifying Kickoff of North American Tour at T-Mobile Park
SEATTLE (May 24, 2025) — Under the golden hues of a late spring sunset, the chants of “Stray Kids!” echoed through T-Mobile Park, shaking the stadium long before the first beat dropped. The K-pop powerhouses made their explosive return to Seattle on Saturday night, launching the North American leg of their “dominate” world tour with a sold-out spectacle that delivered both emotionally and visually.
Fans, known as STAY, began lining up in the early morning hours, some clutching handmade signs and dressed in coordinated outfits representing their bias. Many passed out gift bags that included photocards, stickers, electrolyte packs, and SKZ-beaded charms for phones, an expression of fandom and unity within the STAY community. By the time gates opened, the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation. A 20-minute delay due to extended entry lines only heightened the excitement.
With an attendance of more than 41,000, Stray Kids broke the record for the highest-attended K-pop show in Seattle, also surpassing attendance for acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers while setting a new bar for T-Mobile Park concerts.
As lights dimmed and an opening sequence of flag bearers and pyrotechnics unfolded, the show kicked off with cinematic intensity. The group’s eight members, Bang Chan (leader), Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. appeared in gleaming white, jewel-studded outfits and silver boots, flanked by dancers in deep blue with gold trimmed sashes. The opening number exploded into motion with synchronized choreography, LED stage effects and thunderous cheers from the audience.
Earlier that day, the band had announced modified choreography to accommodate Felix, who had been managing back issues in the days leading up to the show. Though he remained a constant presence on stage, fans noticed a few subtle cues, most notably when he appeared in a sleeveless shirt, revealing visible cupping therapy marks on his right side. The audience responded with overwhelming support, cheering louder during his verses and visibly moved by his resilience.
The setlist spanned the group’s discography, offering a seamless blend of aggressive hip-hop tracks, melodic ballads and high-energy crowd favorites. Stray Kids thrive in controlled chaos; the pace fast, the transitions sharp, the vocals relentless. Each member took turns stepping into the spotlight, often for just seconds, creating a whirlwind of shared attention.
Despite the show’s pace, there were personal moments of connection. Between outfit changes and transitions, the members frequently paused to address the crowd, expressing heartfelt thanks and marveling at the turnout. Some even walked along the barrier separating the stage from the pit to greet lucky fans face-to-face.
The crowd hit its loudest points during “District 9,” the hard-hitting anthem that first launched them in 2018, and “Chk Chk Boom,” which gained additional attention through a viral collaboration with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine campaign.
A wardrobe change into red signaled a tonal shift as the group split into duos, offering some of the night’s most artistically distinct moments. Han and Felix traded rapid verses on “Truman,” Changbin and I.N. commanded the beat on “Burnin’ Tires,” while Bang Chan and Hyunjin delivered a haunting performance of “Escape.” Lee Know and Seungmin closed the mini-set with the emotional ballad “Cinema,” prompting a stadium-wide singalong that softened the show’s otherwise high-octane tone.
These duets offered a momentary departure from the full-throttle energy and gave fans a chance to focus on vocal range and lyrical delivery. It was a reminder that beneath the explosive stage effects and nonstop choreography, Stray Kids are first and foremost musicians.
There was no opener, and none was necessary for the nearly three hour show. From the initial drop to the grand finale, Stray Kids commanded the stadium with the ease of artists at the peak of their careers. “S-Class” and “Lonely St.” lit up the venue with synchronized lightstick waves, while “Lalalala”, “Megaverse”, and “Maniac” (MAMA ver), had the crowd jumping in unison while the band and dancers took the front of the stage set while fireballs where launching in the air behind them, signaling the end of the main set.
Returning to the stage for their first encore, the group performed six additional songs, including “Blind Spot” and their self-titled track “Stray Kids.” But the energy didn’t fade. In a fan-service highlight, the members boarded motorized carts and made a full lap around the field, waving and dancing as they sang to fans seated farther from the stage. The gesture was met with cheers and tears, as STAYs basked in the rare opportunity for a more personal interaction.
The second encore brought fans to their feet one final time with “Chk Chk Boom” (in remixed form) and the uplifting anthem “Haven.” It was a euphoric end to a night that left few sitting and none unaffected.
The evening was also a full-blown sensory experience. Fireworks, bursts of CO2 clouds, fireballs, streamers, and dazzling pyrotechnics punctuated key moments throughout the set, adding a visceral punch to an already high-impact production. The visual effects elevated the atmosphere, turning the kickoff of the North American tour into a stadium show unlike any other, one that didn’t just entertain but overwhelmed in the best possible way.
With this performance, Stray Kids didn’t just dominate; they elevated. As the lines between music genres and global markets continue to blur, it’s becoming clear that the “K” in K-pop is less a genre label and more a cultural passport. Stray Kids are no longer rising stars, they’re main-stage headliners on a global scale.
Seattle may have been just the beginning, but for the fans who filled T-Mobile Park, it was a night they’ll be talking about for years. The tour resumes tomorow night in San Francisco and continues through June, wrapping in Toronto before the group heads to Europe in July.
