Beyonce and Jay-Z concert shows how ill-prepared Vanderbilt Stadium is for capacity crowd

All it took for Vanderbilt to fill its stadium on Thursday night was Beyonce and Jay-Z. If the Commodores can pull that off seven more times this fall, the school is likely to set a school-record for attendance.

Alas, the two performers aren’t likely to make a return to Nashville for any college football games this season but from the sounds of it, that may actually be a good thing for Vanderbilt Stadium. According to people that were in attendance, it was quite the scene trying to get in to actually watch the concert.

The line to get in took over an hour as hundreds of spectators had to wait patiently to get to the show. The show was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. with some people reporting they were still stuck outside by 9 p.m.

Any fans upset at the wait time may find an easy path inside the stadium Saturday, Sept. 1 when the Commodores kick off the season against Middle Tennessee State.

I’ve lived one mile from Vanderbilt Stadium for three years. The @Beyonce & Jay Z concert is the first noise I’ve ever heard from my house…

— Austin Stanley (@AustinStanley81) August 24, 2018

I don't know if it's understaffing or what, but Vanderbilt Stadium is in complete disarray at Beyoncé/Jay-Z. Some people can't even get to their seats in the stands, mobs of folks just blocking entrance points. Could be a different situation on the floor, but stands are mess.

— d. patrick rodgers (@dpatrickrodgers) August 24, 2018

The line to get into Vanderbilt Stadium is insane. I’ve never seen anything like this @Beyonce

— chad sprouse (@MurkyMoodRing) August 24, 2018

There were no metal detector wands or bag searches at our gate, so I’d like to know why it took well over an hour to get in, @VanderbiltU. I’ve seen high school football games that were better organized. https://t.co/trK8n1y3yd

— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) August 24, 2018

The fear that Vanderbilt Stadium was going to collapse was very, very real. That dilapidated piece of crap shook the entire time.

— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) August 24, 2018

Many people have reached out to us about what they say was chaos waiting in line outside of Vanderbilt Stadium for the Beyonce & Jay-Z concert last night https://t.co/GGIK70g5Jk pic.twitter.com/TAhNFEBFOx

— Kara Apel (@KaraApel) August 24, 2018

I would love to know the rationale for Beyoncé playing at Vanderbilt Stadium versus Nissan, but no concert should EVER happen there again.

— c (@courtsthoughts_) August 24, 2018

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.