Hours before sunrise, El Pasoan Gina Rodriguez took her spot at the front of the line. The longtime BTS fan arrived at 3:30 a.m., becoming the first in line for merchandise outside the Don Haskins Center.
Her daughters have been fans since 2013, one of them now 28.
This marked Rodriguez’s second day waiting in line for merchandise. After buying only one jersey the day before, she returned early while her daughter was at work.
After seeing how long the line was the previous day, she arrived early in the morning, parking six blocks away to avoid being towed or ticketed. She didn’t bring a chair or umbrella, but two women who arrived after her shared a yoga mat so she could sit.
She collected stickers, magnets and more from fellow BTS Amy members who gave them to her for being first in line.
“I promised my daughter I would be the first one in line, I promise,” Rodriguez said. “I said ‘ARMY forever.'”
As longtime fans from El Paso, they will attend both shows, although they have seen the group perform three times before, including once in Las Vegas.
“When we say we’re diehard fans, we mean we are diehard fans. We follow, we exchange with fellow Amy’s. I mean, my daughter the longest she’s been following them since she was a teenager. She got me into it and then became an Amy mom.”
Rodriguez explained that “one of the members was in Marfa not too long ago and they passed by here.” They are very excited that the group chose their hometown for the world tour.
“The Korean culture is so prominent, especially in our city,” Rodriguez said. “We love Asian food, we just love the culture. My daughter went as far as one of them learned Korean. The other one, Japanese, literally majored in it.”
They have an Asian family, and Rodriguez said she has always loved watching anime and Chinese movies. She believes she may have influenced her daughters.
The line of fans wrapped around the venue, yet people selling merchandise said they believe they are more organized and prepared this time around.
Merchandise will be available for purchase from 10 a.m. until the concert ends on both days of the event, May 2 and 3, outside of the Don Haskins Center.
“It’s an amazing experience,” Rodriguez said. “I think a lot of first-timers from El Paso are absolutely going to flip over this. They will be like my daughter and I, starting to fly to other cities and states just to see them.”
BTS tour merch details
Merchandise will be sold from 10 a.m. through the end of the concert on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, outside the Don Haskins Center.
Gaby Velasquez may be reached at gavelasquez@elpasotimes.com; @gabyavelasquez on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso BTS fan arrives at 3:30 am to be first in line for merch
Reporting by Gaby Velasquez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
