Jay-Z has closed out his Yankee Stadium residency with a show that started more than three hours late.
Fans were furious and exhausted waiting for the show Sunday as thousands of people were held outside the New York City venue until the concert started shortly after midnight.
The rapper, born Shawn Corey Carter, addressed the delay shortly after taking the stage, telling the massive crowd that the set was pushed back to avoid crowd safety issues, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Let me explain the delay to you guys,” Jay-Z, 56, said after kicking off the concert. “It was like 10,000 people outside, and we closed all the doors, and somebody rushed the door. They closed the door for you guys’ safety and everyone’s safety outside.”
He continued: “There’s 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 okay. I appreciate your patience.”
Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s label, said in a statement shared with The Independent: “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.”
Once the show got started, the audience was quickly forgiving of the delay as the final show, dubbed “Extra Innings,” brought out special guests and wrapped around 2:45 a.m. with celebratory fireworks going off over the stadium.
The third night of Jay-Z’s hometown residency had been highly anticipated after the hip-hop icon brought out his wife Beyoncé and their daughter Blue Ivy, as well as Nas and Alicia Keys during night one of the shows and Eminem for night two.
At the final show, Rihanna made a rare concert appearance and joined Jay-Z on their song “Run This Town” before performing a rendition of “Bitch Better Have My Money.” Beyoncé also came out and performed “Drunk In Love,” and Teyana Taylor joined for “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” Usher and Pharrell Williams also both surprised fans as special guests at the show.
The Yankee Stadium shows were announced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of his acclaimed sixth album The Blueprint. The rapper will extend the celebration over the next few months by performing in London, Paris and Los Angeles.
