The closing night of Jay-Z’s three-day Yankee Stadium residency was delayed on July 12 after reports of fans rushing multiple stadium gates disrupted the concert before it began. The incident led to a security lockdown at the venue before the rapper eventually performed after midnight.
Jay-Z told fans he delayed the Yankee Stadium concert to prevent injuries
Jay-Z addressed the crowd after taking the stage at midnight on July 13, saying, “Let me explain the delay to you guys. It was like 10,000 people outside, and we closed all the doors, and somebody rushed the door. They closed the door for [your] safety and everyone’s safety outside,” reports E! News.
He added, “There [are] 10,000 people outside; I don’t want to start the music and people get trampled. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everyone was OK. I appreciate your patience.”
According to Page Six, Usher joined Jay-Z as a surprise guest, performing a rendition of Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love), while Rihanna also made an appearance on stage. The shows also featured special appearances from Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Nas, Eminem, Teyana Taylor, and Pharrell Williams.
After the show, Roc Nation and Yankee Stadium released a joint statement addressing the incident, saying hundreds of people without tickets attempted to enter the venue through multiple fan entrances, with some allegedly breaching security. The incident resulted in the temporary closure of all stadium gates. The organizations said the gates were later reopened gradually under NYPD guidance to ensure the safety of fans and staff.
Originally scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, the concert was delayed until Jay-Z took the stage at approximately 12:20 a.m., reports ABC7NY. The concert lasted until nearly 3:00 a.m. before coming to a close. According to police, as stated by Spectrum News NY1, no injuries were reported, and no arrests were made following the security breach.
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