Jay-Z fans seek refunds after hourslong delay outside Yankee Stadium
In a joint statement, Yankee Stadium, Live Nation and Roc Nation said large groups of people without tickets rushed the gates, pushing past ticket holders and, at times, breaching security.
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Thousands of fans were left waiting outside Yankee Stadium for hours before Jay-Z's third and final anniversary concert on Sunday night, after stadium officials closed the entry gates.
In a joint statement, Yankee Stadium, Live Nation and Roc Nation said large groups of people without tickets rushed the gates, pushed past ticket holders and, at times, breached security.
Organizers said the gates were later reopened "cautiously and carefully" to protect the safety of people inside and outside the stadium.
The FDNY said six people suffered minor injuries.
Many fans told News 12 they waited outside for up to five hours with no information about whether the concert would start or be cancelled.
Some said they spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on tickets and ultimately left before the show started.
Hailey Mason traveled from Atlanta for what she hoped would be a meaningful tribute to her late mother, a lifelong Jay-Z fan.
RELATED: Fans travel from across the country for Jay-Z's second night at Yankee Stadium
"My mom passed away when I was younger, so I always wanted to go to a Jay-Z concert with her," Mason said. "There were a lot of mother-daughter duos, so it was emotional."
After waiting for five hours in the crowd, Mason, who was by herself, said she decided to leave.
"People kept pushing and shoving. I was tired, dehydrated, and I have asthma, so I couldn't breathe," she said.
Several fans who purchased resale tickets through StubHub told News 12 they were denied refunds because the concert ultimately took place.
StubHub said it sympathizes with affected fans but that the tickets remained valid because the show was not canceled.
The company also said it was not responsible for operating the event or communicating delays, noting that updates would have come from the venue or primary ticketing provider.
The concert began shortly before 1 a.m. after the extended delay.
Jay-Z apologized to the crowd, saying organizers wanted to make sure everyone was safe before starting the show.
The show featured surprise appearances by Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher and several other artists.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city will review what happened to better understand the security response and determine whether changes are needed for future events.
Ticketmaster did not respond to a request for comment.
