#SHOWBIZ: Blinding Lights, gridlock nights: The Weeknd hits KL, but fans left stranded

KUALA LUMPUR: "The Weeknd concert just ended and it's 1am in KL. The crowd was really crazy. Ended up walking 5km as no Grab was accepting the request."

This blunt post on X from a weary concertgoer captured the post-show reality for thousands leaving the TM National Stadium in Bukit Jalil early this morning.

While Canadian R&B titan Abel Tesfaye — better known as The Weeknd — delivered an electrifying opening night for the grand finale of his After Hours 'Til Dawn Tour, the midnight aftermath turned into a gruelling endurance test.

Before the show, travel advisories urged fans to take public transit, with Rapid KL extending LRT operations until 12.30am.

But because the concert stretched past 1am, trains had already ceased operating before the estimated 65,000-strong crowd poured out.

E-hailing options at the Endah Parade hub faced massive surge pricing and driver shortages, leaving thousands stranded or forced on foot in the dead of night.

Pre-concert traffic was equally brutal. KESAS, MEX, MRR2, and the KL-Seremban Expressway hit standstill levels as early as 4.30pm, alongside threats of early November evening downpours.

Drivers who parked further out at MRANTI Park or Calvary Convention Centre fared better than those stuck in stadium bays.

Inside, however, was pop history unfolding. Night 1 kicked off the absolute final stop of a world tour that began in 2022, drawing an overall expected 130,000 fans across Nov 4 and 5, including regional travellers from Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand.

For the uninitiated, the 36-year-old multi-Grammy winner is one of the world's biggest stars, famed for his falsetto, dark cinematic style, and hits like Blinding Lights (Spotify's most-streamed track ever), Starboy, and Save Your Tears.

The production featured a giant glowing moon, pyrotechnics, flawless acoustics, and fans queueing early in the afternoon for exclusive tour merchandise.

For another 65,000 fans attending tonight's (Nov 5) final show, Night 1 serves as a clear warning: plan your exit strategy carefully, carry umbrellas for rain, and prepare for heavy congestion as KL bids farewell to a monumental tour.