Jay-Z takes the stage after midnight at Yankee Stadium after massive delay
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.
"New York City, What's up? So, let me explain the delay to you guys," the rapper told the crowd as he finally took the stage.
"It was like 10,000 people outside, and they closed all the doors. And somebody rushed the door, and they closed the door for you guys' safety and everybody's safety outside. [If there are] 10,000 people outside, I'm not going to start music, and people get trampled," he continued. "I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everybody's OK. I appreciate your patience and we're going to have a good time tonight."
The "Jay-Z 30" concert series commemorates the 30th anniversary of his debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," released June 25, 1996. It also celebrates the 25th anniversary of his sixth studio album, "The Blueprint," released Sept. 11, 2001. He dedicated Friday night's show to "Reasonable Doubt" and Saturday's to "The Blueprint."
Sunday night's "Extra Innings" show combined both shows due to high demand, and Jay-Z finished out with a spectacular finish with a line of special surprise guests including, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Young Jeezy, Usher, Teyana Taylor and more.
While the long wait easily became a distant memory for some as the show started, others shared they did not get to witness the show.
One user wrote on Threads, "Made the decision to leave at 11:45, after being in the stadium since 7. I feel for both those inside and out. However, my intuition & discernment won't allow me to remain in chaos. As bad as I wanted to see Jay-Z, the inefficiency of Yankee Stadium's logistics is dangerous. I got a kid waiting for me back in Chicago, that I have to get home to. Til next time Jay… headed back to my hotel."
This fall, the rapper will bring his Jay-Z 30 concert series in Los Angeles (Oct. 23) and Paris (Sept. 10).
Recently, Jay-Z added a London show date to the lineup on Sept. 4, which is Beyoncé's birthday. This concert will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and already has fans speculating whether Beyoncé might make an appearance, given the significance of the date.
Shop Jay-Z tickets now
Follow USA TODAY Network and The Tennessean music reporter Caché McClay on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jay-Z takes the stage after midnight at Yankee Stadium after massive delay
Reporting by Caché McClay, USA TODAY NETWORK / Nashville Tennessean
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 12:40 PM.