Parent waiting areas set up for underaged concern-goers in Shanghai

Shanghai authorities have set up parent waiting areas for underaged concert-goers to attend the concert series by popular Chinese boy band Teens in Times running from Wednesday through Sunday.

The four concerts are expected to draw over 200,000 audiences at the Shanghai Stadium, predominantly young female fans, according to the ticket platform data. It shows over 80 percent of ticket holders are under 25 years old, with more than a quarter being minors.

Two designated parent waiting areas have been established near the venue, featuring meeting points to facilitate easier reunions after the concerts. These designated areas have been integrated into navigation apps.

Other special arrangements include an increase of female restroom facilities to accommodate the audience composition.

With temperatures expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius during the concert dates, police officers will be equipped with medicine and heat relief items for emergency assistance. Additionally, 500 volunteers from Xuhui district will be deployed to assist with crowd management and provide necessary guidance.

Security measures extend to ticket verification and entry procedures. The organizers have implemented strict regulations regarding prohibited items, including LED signs, tripods, and flags, in order to maintain safety in a densely packed venue.

The authorities have also taken strong action against ticket scalping and fraud. Shanghai police have already cracked three cases involving illegal ticket-purchasing software, arresting five suspects. The ticketing platform has implemented technical measures to prevent malicious purchases and collaborates with police to identify suspicious transactions.

"We maintain zero tolerance for ticket fraud and scalping," said Tao Teng, a police officer from public order unit of the city's public security bureau. "People should only purchase tickets through official channels to avoid entry denial risks."

A particular challenge will arise on Friday and Saturday, when the venue complex will simultaneously host a UFC event at the nearby Shanghai Indoor Stadium. Authorities have established separate entry points and staged exit procedures to prevent crowd intersection.

Teens in Times is a seven-member boy group formed by Time Fengjun Entertainment in China. It debuted in November 2019.