Jay-Z Opens Barclays Center With a Sweet Set

(Note: the following post was, in fact, written by TickPick co-founder Brett Goldberg, and not myself. I merely wish I had gone to this concert.)

Jay-Z has sold out more concerts than any other hip-hop artist in the world. There’s good reason for this: it revolves around his ability to control the crowd’s energy. With 30+ hits to choose from, he’s able to keep the crowd singing (and screaming) along all while trying to guess what song will be next. He performs a 2 hour concert effortlessly and leaves you wanting more.

That said, I am no music critic. However, with well over 100 concerts under my belt, I will share with you my experience of Jay-Z’s opening night at Barclays Center and what you should know if you plan on going to see him perform any of his five remaining concerts at Barclays Center.

What to know:

• Jay-Z took the stage at 9:45pm.
• He played about an 80 minute set, took a short break while Big Daddy Kane came on stage, then came back for an encore.
• Allow 20-30 minutes to get through security (which includes metal detectors) and to get to your seats.
• Allow another 30 minutes for food and beverage lines.
• The Will Call / Box Office line takes about 40 minutes, but has separate security lines from the general entrance.

It’s always difficult to find out the information you want to know in advance of going to a concert, especially with a new venue like the Barclays Center. It’s hard to know answers to easy questions, such as what time will Jay-Z go on? The first opening night at Barclays Center, Jay-Z took the stage at 9:45pm. His set was energetic and exactly what you would expect from the master. Expect much of the same artistry in his next performances. -Brett