TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Mandopop king Jay Chou (周杰倫) mesmerized an audience of 38,000 at the Taipei Dome (台北大巨蛋) on Thursday (Dec. 5) as he kicked off his Carnival World Tour in Taipei. The three-and-a-half-hour concert also attracted over 100 fans outside, eager to experience the music without tickets. Many sat on the ground or brought chairs, brandishing pink signs in hopes of finding tickets.
Local restaurants near the Taipei Dome reported a 20% to 30% increase in sales, thanks to the concert's sounds reaching beyond the venue's walls. Fans outside demonstrated their devotion, with some humorously donning hard hats and planning to listen through sewers. Despite lacking tickets, these fans were there to support Chou and immerse themselves in the concert atmosphere.
Chou delighted his audience by allowing them to request 15 songs during the concert's finale, culminating with "Orange Jasmine" (七里香) to the fans' delight. Managing the large crowd was a considerable effort, with a substantial team deployed to assist in dispersing attendees. Taipei Metro (北捷) established a command center at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, with dedicated officers ensuring smooth crowd navigation.
In approximately 12 minutes post-concert, nearly all fans had exited the venue, aided by the one-way operation of escalators and numerous traffic police officers managing the outside flow. JVR Music (杰威爾音樂) incentivized concertgoers to use the metro by offering a NT$20 subsidy for those departing from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station.
