Jay-Z's Yankee Stadium show runs nearly 3 hours late after delayed start

Brian Niemietz and Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News on Jul 13, 2026

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NEW YORK — The final night of Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium homestand got off to a late start and ran until nearly 3 a.m. due to apparent safety concerns.

The scheduled Sunday night performance, which was fittingly dubbed “Extra Innings,” finally got underway early Monday morning much to the chagrin of anxious fans.

The Hollywood Reporter said the Brooklyn-born rapper blamed the late start on an individual who bum-rushed the show.

“It was like 10,000 people outside, and we closed all the doors, and somebody rushed the door,” he told fans shortly after midnight.

The concert marked the third and final night of a weekend series that included appearances by his wife Beyoncé, Nas, Alicia Keys and Eminem. Jay-Z’s Bronx trilogy marked the 30th anniversary of his hit album “Reasonable Doubt” and the 25th anniversary of “The Blueprint,” which featured songs including “Hola Hovito” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

Fans who stuck around until nearly 3 a.m. heard those hits and more, according to a setlist published by Consequence of Sound. They were also treated to appearances by Rihanna, Pharrell, Usher and Bronx native Fat Joe followed by a fireworks display.

Jay-Z announced from the stage to fans who’d been waiting inside the ballpark since at least 10 p.m. that the show’s late start was for the safety of concertgoers and others outside Yankee Stadium. At least one fan complained on social media that she’d been kept waiting outside the stadium since 6:30 p.m. despite having a ticket.

“There’s 10,000 people outside, I don’t want to start the music and people get trampled,” the 25-time Grammy Award winner said. “I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everyone was OK.”

He thanked supporters for their patience.

Jay-Z’s representatives at Roc Nation released a statement on behalf of the rapper and Yankee Stadium officials.

“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,” the statement reads. “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.”

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