Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour stop in Chicago didn’t go exactly as planned, but fans showed up in full force, ready to ride out anything Mother Nature threw their way — and it threw a lot.
Her first show at Soldier Field on Thursday, May 15, was hit with a triple whammy: blistering 95-degree heat, fierce thunderstorms, and hours of delays. Officials eventually told fans to shelter in place, and the gates didn’t reopen until after 9 p.m. Even then, fans had to wait until 9:45 p.m. to reach floor seating.
But despite the chaos, Beyoncé’s fans stayed positive — some even joyful — dancing in cowboy boots and glitter while waiting. “If I have to sit through a tornado outside in a field, I would do it,” one devoted fan told local reporters. “You only live once, and Beyoncé is a once-in-a-lifetime performer.”
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Videos from the stadium showed fans taking cover as heavy winds knocked over chairs and rain poured into the open-air venue. Still, many shrugged it off — the Queen Bey was worth the wait.
Thankfully, things are expected to calm down weather-wise for her next two shows in Chicago, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday night. Rain is still on the radar, but those scary storms are expected to ease up.
Transit Trouble Brewing in New Jersey
While Chicago’s skies are clearing, Beyoncé’s East Coast fans are now bracing for a different kind of disruption — a transit strike in New Jersey.
The pop star is set to perform five shows at MetLife Stadium between May 22 and May 29. But the timing couldn’t be worse, as NJ Transit train engineers launched a strike on May 16. They’ve been working without a contract — or a raise — for six years, and now they’ve walked off the job after rejecting a proposed deal.
This could mean major headaches for concertgoers trying to get to the venue, which holds about 50,000 people. NJ Transit has already canceled train and bus service for other major shows, including back-to-back Shakira concerts. Officials are warning Beyoncé fans to expect long delays and price surges for rideshare services — and possibly wait times of up to two hours after the show.
MetLife’s website is urging people to carpool, take private buses, or arrange rideshare pickups ahead of time.
Still, the Show Must Go On
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour supports her latest genre-blending album, Cowboy Carter, which made waves at the Grammys earlier this year. She took home three trophies, including Best Country Album and a win for her duet with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted.”
This tour follows the success of her massive 2023 Renaissance World Tour and the documentary-style concert film Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, which dropped in theaters last December.
From thunderstorms to transit strikes, Beyoncé’s fans seem ready to endure just about anything for the chance to see her live. Because when Queen Bey hits the stage — no matter the delay — the magic is always worth it.
