Readers say Lana Del Rey should've rescheduled her Fenway Park show (2024)

Music

Coming on at 10:30 p.m. after a thunderstorm, Del Rey ran through her hits and brought 3 surprise guests on stage during the one-hour show.

By Molly Farrar

updated on June 25, 2024

Lana Del Rey went ahead with her show at Fenway Park that was delayed last week due to lightning, leaving some fans feeling disappointed with her condensed set, according to a Boston.com poll.

Del Rey was initially scheduled to begin the June 20 show at 7:30 p.m., most likely with Fenway’s infamous 11 p.m. noise curfew in mind. By 8:30, fans had to seek shelter within the concourse. The rain didn’t let up until after 10 p.m., and Lana took the stage about a half hour later.

Readers told Boston.com that the hour-long show – which missed some of her big hits, shortened songs, and included three surprise guests – was disappointing and unsafe.

Many readers wanted refunds or partial refunds for their tickets, which cost between $300 to $1,000, according to responses. At the end of her show, Del Rey promised fans she’ll find a way to get the two-hour show back to fans “somehow, somewhere.”

Others said that the evacuation and delay caused unsafe conditions and that communication from Fenway Park staff was spotty. Concertgoers who had tickets on the turf, in the pit, or for uncovered seats had to seek shelter in the concourse, which two readers described as being “packed like sardines.”

While fans were stuck in the concourse, Del Rey took to Instagram (in a since-deleted post) to ask fans if she should do a shortened show or come back on Saturday night. Many said that limited service kept fans from weighing in.

Some readers said they left Fenway before Del Rey got back on stage, in some cases, they said, because employees told them the concert was canceled. For its part, a spokesperson for the park said that “at no point” did Fenway Park staff tell patrons the concert was cancelled. “The only instructions delivered from our operations team was a message to seek shelter to remain safe from the electrical storm,” they said.

Other readers asked what Del Rey would do to make it up to fans who spent hundreds of dollars and traveled for the one-time show.

Others thought the experience in the concourse allowed for bonding amongst Lana fans and that the singer did the best she could with the weather.

We asked readers if Del Rey should’ve canceled Thursday’s show to instead perform a full-length concert on Saturday night. About 250 people responded, and nearly 79% thought that Del Rey should’ve postponed the show.

Here is a sampling of some readers’ thoughts on Boston.com’s poll if the show should’ve been postponed.

‘It’s a small miracle that there was not a fatal disaster‘

“We got there at 4 and ended up leaving before she came out. It was frightening inside with people pushing and shoving. An altercation broke out near us, and no security came. You couldn’t text them either – not working. I got shoved into a railing and bruised.” – Boston.com reader

“It was hell on earth. We were evacuated to the concourse, and there was no room to move. It was so hot in there I actually ended up at the emergency room and missed her finally going on. My daughter is devastated. They knew days before it there would be a heat advisory and dangerous temps they should have postponed.” – Kat

“I was escorted out of the show due to rain, and we weren’t allowed back in. I paid $500 for these tickets to not even be allowed back in by Fenway employees.” – Veronica, Rhode Island

“It was my first time seeing her, I honestly wish it was postponed. I’m still so grateful that she continued to play as much as she could despite the weather and the curfew. I understand that there were many people who flew in and would not be able to go to the show on Saturday, but also, the show was specifically FOR Boston. It should’ve been a special show for people in Boston and around it, not people who flew in from halfway across the world. I am really bummed that the concert got cut short, but it was such a surreal night and I’m so glad I got to go.” – Ellianna, Somers, Connecticut

“Absolutely abysmal security at Fenway. It’s a small miracle that there was not a fatal disaster in the concourse.” – Boston.com reader

“Flew in from Virginia and a couple more nights in Boston would have been fine.” – Christina, Richmond, Virginia

“I paid an exuberant amount of money to see her, and I feel like I was left empty-handed. Sure, she ran through the songs as fast as she could, but I’ve actually seen Lana several other times. She’s a phenomenal performer. I brought my friend who had never seen her. She didn’t get to experience what I was telling her but yes, it was still an amazing show for an hour, not worth $2000. I didn’t expect to get heat stroke in the tunnels, waiting to go back down on the field. That was the craziest moment I ever had watching people pass all around me from the heat.” – Carol, Grand Haven, Michigan

“I would’ve loved to see Young and Beautiful, National Anthem, Off to the Races, etc. the Quavo song was great, but I paid to see Lana, not a bunch of guest performers for that short amount of time.” – Kate, Boston

‘Lana is Mother, however she is not Mother Nature’

“Despite the delays she did an amazing job, made the show as wonderful as she could. She remained professional but human at the same time, and she promised to come back. I love that she honored her guests’ time and brought them out despite having to cut the show short. It really shows how much she cares for them, and the fact that she performed and said she’ll come back to give us a full show really goes to show how much she cares about her fans and the lengths she’ll go to to make sure we get at least something. They could never make me hate you Lana.” – Erin, South Berwick, Maine

“The vibe during the rain delay was a sort of we are all in this together. It was so enjoyable. The fans were energized and so so positive! It was enjoyable just hanging and waiting with such an awesome crowd. Once Lana started the show, the atmosphere was electrifying! The best fans I have ever seen at any concert. The roar of appreciation was next level!!” – Jan T., Manalapan, New Jersey

“Everyone who bought tickets for Fenway Park should’ve known the risks when attending an outdoor seating style concert/event. Lana is Mother, however she is not Mother Nature. She gave a stellar performance with the time she had, and even went over a half hour on her own dime against a strict curfew.” – Mic, East Bridgewater

“During the rain delay, I had time to meet some other fans seated in my area. We handed out American flags and made jokes and sang together — that was the highlight of the night for me. The whole thing was out of LDR’s control, and I respect her for coasting through the show so elegantly. I’m grateful I saw her, but am definitely leaving with mixed emotions.” – Maxwell, New York City

“I absolutely adored Lana del Rey’s show, and I know she is a performer and put a lot of time and thought into her performance. I have been in the business of theatrics and singing for over 12 years now, I know the show must ALWAYS go on. You cannot control the rain and weather of Mother Nature, you can prepare for it but honestly, you never can trust what you see. You had to have gone with the flow. I sang and danced my heart out to top hits like” Summertime Sadness”, “Chemtrails over the country club”, “Pretty when You cry”, etc. I absolutely am glad I waited because I had a blast. If it weren’t for Lana, I don’t know what I would listen to.” – Owen, Hanover

“We had pit tickets so we were forced to stay inside, where it was hot and crammed. We are grateful Lana played, even if it were a shortened show. The real villain here is the city of Boston, who should make exceptions to the “noise curfew” when unforeseen weather postponed performances. It’s one night, 30 to 60 minutes. Do not fine the artist. She didn’t choose to start late. Do not punish the fans who spent a lot of time and money. Shame on the city. Praise to Lana for doing the best she could.” – Jayne, Boston

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add a statement from Fenway Park.