Thousands of fans stood outside Yankee Stadium for hours ahead of Jay-Z‘s concert, braving the long wait for the final night of his 30th anniversary shows in New York.
The Grammy-winning rapper was set to take the stage for his third concert at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on Sunday, July 12 with a start time of 8 p.m.
However, many fans’ patience was tested as the scheduled start time came and went, with fans remaining outside as anticipation continued to build. While many were able to get inside the venue and waited for him to take the stage, others remained outside even as his set began.
The show finally got underway around 12:16 a.m., kicking off a marathon performance that stretched into the early morning hours. The New York Yankees, Roc Nation and Live Nation issued a statement explaining the delay:
“On Sunday evening at various fan entrances at Yankee Stadium, hundreds of individuals in large groups, who did not have tickets to tonight’s performance, stormed over peaceful ticketholders, and in some cases, breached security. As a result, gates at all entrances of the Stadium were closed for an extended period of time. With the thoughtful guidance of the NYPD, gates were reopened cautiously and carefully to ensure the safety of those inside and outside. The Yankees, Roc Nation, and Live Nation express our deep gratitude to the NYPD and to Yankee Stadium security personnel for their leadership and direction throughout the evening, putting the welfare of attendees above all other considerations.”