Jay-Z has addressed the disruption that overshadowed the final date of his Yankee Stadium run, after reports emerged of fans fainting and becoming sick outside the venue during disorder at the entrances.
Shawn Corey Carter completed a three-show residency at the New York ballpark from July 10 to July 12. The run was billed as JAY-Z 30, JAY-Z 25 and a final Extra Innings show, marking 30 years since Reasonable Doubt and 25 years since The Blueprint. The first two nights reportedly drew record-setting crowds for the venue, with the Saturday show selling 45,832 tickets, according to reports.
However, the last show on Sunday did not begin as planned. The concert was delayed by almost four hours after large numbers of people without tickets allegedly tried to push their way inside, moving the start time from 8pm to shortly after midnight.
In a joint statement released with the New York Yankees, Roc Nation and Live Nation, Jay-Z said that “hundreds of individuals in large groups” who were not ticketholders had “stormed over peaceful ticketholders,” and that some were able to “breach security.” Officials then closed gates around the stadium for a lengthy period while they worked to manage the situation.
The statement added that, with the “thoughtful guidance of the NYPD,” entrances were later reopened “cautiously and carefully” so that safety remained the priority for people both inside and outside the venue. The Yankees, Roc Nation and Live Nation also expressed gratitude to police and stadium security for focusing on crowd welfare throughout the evening.
Yankee Stadium’s standard entry procedures require guests to pass through security screening, including metal detectors and bag checks, and the venue advises ticketed guests to arrive early for events that may involve heavier foot traffic or enhanced security measures.
Use this too and make sure to tag @Ticketmaster @RocNation in your news story . They locked every gate except one and had 10K people passing out and fainting on line for 5 HOURS . The cop said that they would let people in 1 by 1 and never let one person in Complete shit show . pic.twitter.com/pJxkXgjKjT
— TMPodcast (@TMPodcast23) July 13, 2026
Those who had bought tickets described a stressful and confusing experience as they tried to enter the stadium for a performance they had paid to attend.
Rosalynn Glover, who travelled from Atlanta for the concert, told Eyewitness News she was shocked by what unfolded at the gates.
“We got here a little after 8, went to Gate 2, they bum rushed Gate 2. Bum rushed,” she said.
“People went past security, were not checked and got into the stadium.”
She also claimed workers at Gate 4 seemed more amused than concerned, saying they were ‘laughing’ and ‘taunting’ fans who had made the trip for the concert.
Videos shared online appeared to show thousands of people still gathered outside well after the advertised 8pm start. One social media user alleged that “hundreds of fans mobbed the place and got in for free” before the venue was shut off to everyone else.
Additional posts on X reported people passing out, vomiting and shouting for medical help in the crowd, with one person describing the incident as ‘insane, inhumane and very dangerous.’
Authorities reopened the gates just before 10pm, with officers stationed at entrances as fans were gradually admitted. Jay-Z eventually came onstage at around 12:15am and apologised for the delay, explaining it was necessary to prevent a possible trampling.
The three-night run also drew major attention for the guests who turned up on stage. Beyoncé appeared on opening night, while later shows featured surprise moments that added to the celebratory atmosphere before Sunday’s chaos dominated the conversation.
The shows were promoted under the title Jay-Z 30, celebrating three decades since the release of his debut album Reasonable Doubt as well as 25 years since The Blueprint.