Beyonce‘s second night in DC for her ‘Renaissance Tour’ was definetely one that she, nor her fans will ever forget!
While night one on Saturday seemingly went off without a hitch, night two which took place on Sunday (Aug. 6) didn’t have the same streak of luck.
The night began with a forecast for rainstorms that were set to start just as the show began, and set to end right after the show’s usual end time.
As fans headed to the show hoping the forecast would shift, the storms, unfortunately, didn’t move to the left, the the left, and rolled right on in just as doors opened at Fed Ex Field.
Fans were overwhelmed with pouring rain, thunder, and intense traffic around the venue, and even at the parking areas at the venue, and in the long lines outside.
While doors opened at 5 pm to allow attendees to get in early, many didn’t arrive until around the show’s kickoff time of 8 pm (Bey was set to come on the stage around 9 pm based on previous shows including Saturdays).
Amidst all this, Fed Ex Field was forced to issue a shelter-in-place notice citing lightning in the area before giving fans the all-clear and allowing the show to go on. The delay left fans inside sweltering in hot and humid conditions as they waited on updates from the venue.
Meanwhile, fans on the outside waiting to get in were reportedly held at the door to help with crowd control.
“Due to lightning in the area, we are currently under a shelter-in-place order. Fans outside of gates and in the parking lots are asked to return to their cars,” the stadium said in a statement posted on Twitter at 6:40 p.m.
Due to lightning in the area, we are currently under a shelter in place order.
Fans outside of gates and in the parking lots are asked to return to their cars.
All fans inside of the stadium are asked to shelter in place under covered concourse areas and ramps until further…
— FedExField (@FedExField) August 6, 2023
“All fans inside of the stadium are asked to shelter in place under covered concourse areas and ramps until further notice.”
The shelter-in-place order was lifted after an almost two-hour wait during which several people were treated for heat exhaustion and one person was hospitalized.
As a result of the extended delays, the tour paid $100,000 to keep all 98 Metro stations in the Washington, DC, area open for an extra hour after Sunday’s show to accommodate concertgoers to ensure they made it home safely.
“Due to inclement weather that may delay the start of tonight’s Renaissance World Tour at FedExField, Metro will extend the last train by an extra hour beyond the extended closing previously announced,” the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said in a statement.
“The additional hour will be funded by the Tour to cover the $100,000 cost to run more trains, keep all 98 stations open for customers to exit, and other operational expenses.”
DMV fans were also awarded the title of Bey’s viral “On Mute” challenge that has been taking place at each stop of her tour.
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All in all, the show was EXCEPTIONAL and it was an amazing night despite a few hiccups! Get into some of Bey’s personal snaps from the night.
