Following a delay of more than three hours before the final show of his three-night residency at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Jay-Z explained to concertgoers that the performance had been held back because thousands of fans were still outside the venue, adding that the decision was made to prioritise everyone’s safety.
Addressing the crowd shortly after taking the stage, just after 12 a.m. ET on Monday, Jay-Z apologised for the delay and explained that the concert was postponed because of safety concerns.
“There were about 10,000 people outside, and after someone rushed one of the entrances, the doors were closed to protect everyone both inside and outside the stadium,” he said.
Jay-Z added that he did not want the show to begin while thousands of fans were still trying to get in, saying he wanted to avoid any risk of people being trampled. He thanked the audience for their patience and apologised for the inconvenience.
Although many fans inside Yankee Stadium expressed frustration over the lengthy delay, the atmosphere shifted once the concert finally began, with the audience responding enthusiastically throughout the performance.
Most concertgoers remained until the end of the show, which had originally been scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET but eventually concluded around 2:45 a.m. ET on Monday. The night ended with a fireworks display above the stadium.
Following the concert, Roc Nation, Yankee Stadium and Live Nation issued a joint statement, saying, “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.”
The delay overshadowed the start of what had been billed as the most eagerly anticipated night of Jay-Z’s historic three-show hometown run at Yankee Stadium.
Fans had been looking forward to the performance after the hip-hop star surprised audiences on previous nights with guest appearances from Beyoncé, Nas, Alicia Keys and Eminem.
The final concert, titled “Extra Innings,” featured several surprise guest appearances. Rihanna joined Jay-Z to perform “Run This Town” before delivering a rare live solo performance of “Bitch Better Have My Money.”
Beyoncé later took the stage for “Drunk in Love,” while Teyana Taylor teamed up with Jay-Z for “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” The show also featured appearances by Usher and Pharrell Williams.
Jay-Z has made only a handful of concert appearances since concluding his 4:44 Tour in 2017, making the Yankee Stadium performances a rare return to the stage.
The three-night event also served as a milestone celebration, marking the 30th anniversary of his landmark album Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint.
Although the Yankee Stadium concerts held special significance as hometown performances, Jay-Z is also scheduled to take the stage in London, Paris, and Los Angeles in the coming months.
The rapper is also set to feature in a Rick Rubin-directed documentary series, which is expected to premiere on HBO later this year.
