The UHCL Bayou Theatre hosted K-pop girl group VIVIZ as the venue for the Houston stop on their “[New Legacy]” World Tour last Friday.

“We’re so excited! We can’t wait to see them!” said concertgoers and longtime fans Alexis and Meilinh about the trio. The two had arrived on campus among dozens of others two hours before doors opened and were among the first in line to get inside.

The line started in front of the campus café, continued down the front of the Patio Café and wrapped around the side as early as 2 p.m. Friday for those with VIP tickets.

As fans lined up with posters and light sticks, some were left baffled at the idea of a K-pop concert happening at the university. “I was as shocked as you are,” said Anthony Vitello, a UHCL student and event volunteer.

Vitello had reached out to the Bayou Theater soon after independently learning about the show. He had worked concerts and events in the past, but never at a school.

The girl group’s presence on campus–along with that of their fans–came as a surprise to a number of students and faculty members, some K-pop fans themselves, who were unaware the theater was going to be hosting a group this popular.

This may have been due in part to the lack of the performance’s promotion by UHCL and the Bayou Theater. Stephen Davis, director of the theatre’s program, clarified that this was because of how the performance was booked.

The show was put on by event planning company Leo Presents, who rented the theater space for the show. Without endorsement by the university, the girl group’s performance was not promoted through official university channels.

Despite this, Davis saw the K-pop group’s performance at the theater as a great way to broaden the university’s presence among a group of majority younger, college-aged individuals.

Other fans were also surprised by the venue’s location but were not put off by it. As put by Courtney, a fan who was attending the show with her mom, “I went to a concert last weekend at the Toyota Center and it was very overwhelming. Having it here is a lot more chill and feels more intimate.”

To see the rest of the Bayou Theater’s lineup for the 2025-2026 season, you can visit their website.