Jay-Z's final New York performance at Yankee Stadium didn't begin as planned after a major security incident forced organisers to delay the show by more than four hours.

According to Live Nation, hundreds of people without tickets tried to push through stadium entrances on Sunday night, creating safety risks for fans who had paid to attend. The promoter said security teams responded by closing every gate while they worked to regain control of the situation.

The disruption left thousands of legitimate concertgoers waiting outside as officials tightened security measures. Stadium entrances remained closed for an extended period before fans were allowed back in gradually under closer supervision.

Live Nation said the decision was made to protect everyone at the venue after groups of ticketless individuals reportedly overwhelmed entry points and, in some cases, broke through security barriers.

The concert had originally been scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. local time, but Jay-Z did not appear on stage until around 12:15 a.m. on Monday. Before launching into his set, the rapper briefly acknowledged the delay and explained to fans why the show had started so late.

Despite the unexpected setback, more than 40,000 people stayed inside Yankee Stadium and watched the performance once the situation had been resolved.

The concert wrapped up Jay-Z's three-night run at the iconic New York venue and marked his first major solo concert series since 2017. The incident also highlighted the growing security challenges surrounding large-scale live music events, where organisers are increasingly balancing fan access with public safety.