JayZ Toronto

Lots of empty seats expected at ACC for JAY-Z

How are there still so many tickets left for JAY-Z's back-to-back shows in Toronto this week?

This is what the people of Twitter would like to know. So let's explore.

The iconic New York rapper, currently on tour promoting his 13th studio album, is booked to perform both Wednesday and Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Based on reviews from previous 4:44 tour stops (and the set list, which is dope) they'll be fantastic shows. They always are with Jay, plus he's got a massive fan base both here and abroad.

That's why it seems strange that every section of the ACC has seats for sale right now – more than 100 of them per block, in some cases – to both Toronto concerts.

The last time Jay played an arena show in Toronto was during 2014's On The Run Tour, which he co-headlined with his wife, BeyoncĂŠ Knowles-Carter.

On The Run sold out in minutes – as did Beyoncé's Formation World Tour, which hit Toronto in May of 2016.

Despite the fact that Jay has packed, many stadiums in the past, some fans are blaming a lack of Bey for the perceived "flop" of his latest tour.

Some other theories:

  • Live Nation's new, anti-scalper ticketing strategy is driving ticket prices too high for the taste of some fans.
  • Reports of Jay struggling to sell tickets for the tour in general have been greatly exaggerated, and in some case disputed by attendees who've reported packed stadiums. Live Nation still maintains that 4:44 is JAY-Z's highest grossing tour ever, according to SPIN.

🙌🙌🙌 - - - - - #jayz #444tour #bellcentre #mtlmoment #montreal #bell #encore

A post shared by Marianne G. Courchesne (@mariannegc) on

  • Bad weather. A lot of people are selling off tickets on Instagram and Twitter right now, suggesting that partying on a cold weeknight in November isn't always the most appealing thing to do – even if you thought it might be when you bought the tickets back in August.
  • Promoting an album in which you apologize for cheating on your very famous and beloved wife is a bad idea, especially when that wife put you on blast for the aforementioned cheating scandal on her own album last year.

BeyoncĂŠ may forgive her husband for stepping out, but have the couple's mutual fans?

Regardless, it's unlikely that Beyoncé will be at her husband's shows in Toronto. The couple has newborn twins at home, she's working on projects of her own, and, let's be honest – it's not like she needs the money.

Maybe he should call Becky with the good hair.

Lead photo by

stephanz


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