Jay-Z Yankee Stadium concert held up for hours after unticketed crowds surge gates

NEW YORK (AP):

Jay-Z’s concert at Yankee Stadium was held up for several hours on Sunday night when hundreds of people without tickets attempted to force their way inside. The renowned New York ballpark closed its gates for a stretch, and the Bronx rapper did not appear until after midnight.

Once the wait ended, he took the stage at 12:17 a.m. Monday. Addressing those already seated, he said that “somebody rushed the door” and that he held off starting so he would not have “people get trampled” while others were still coming in.

“Really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everybody was OK,” he said, then thanked fans for waiting and pledged a “good time tonight”.

In a joint statement, the Yankees, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Live Nation said hundreds of unticketed people arriving in large groups “stormed over peaceful ticketholders, and in some cases, breached security”. Entrances stayed shut for a prolonged interval, then were reopened with care.

Footage shot outside captured a sizeable gathering near one gate. Separate clip shot inside showed people pouring through an open doorway until several security officers blocked further entry.

A New York Police Department spokesperson said the department had no details on whether anyone was arrested at the stadium in connection with the episode.