No water, toilets or food: Drake fan fury at two-hour wait
Drake fans were forced to wait outside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for almost two hours after a massive delay, with a late start to the concert.
Music Tours
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music Tours. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Drake fans had their patience tested on Monday night when the Canadian rapper kept them waiting for his first Brisbane concert.
With supporting DJs finishing their set at 8.20pm, it was another hour and a half before the megastar took the stage.
The 9.50pm kick-off was a full half-hour later than the start time at one of his previous Sydney shows.
Earlier, doors to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre had opened more than two hours late, generating long lines and an outpouring on social media.
A video uploaded to TikTok showed hundreds of concertgoers waiting in front of the gates.
In the video caption, the fan wrote, “Drake let us in, we’re dying out here.”
Concertgoer Jason McCarthy said: “We’ve been here lining up since 5.30pm, the line went all the way the way around the lake to the train station and we’re still out here at 7.55pm.”
By 8pm thousands were still waiting in lines that wrapped around the venue’s lake and stretched into multiple car parks, unable to take their seats as the concert was due to begin.
It came after promoters sent a text message this morning to attendees, encouraging people to arrive early due to expected traffic and entry delays.
“Tell me why it is 7pm and the gates still aren’t open,” another fan said.
“We’ve been here since like 5pm and the gates still aren’t open. They have no idea when it will be open.”
While no official reason for the delay was given, insiders told The Courier-Mail it was understood the late arrival of Drake, his support acts and entourage caused the gate opening to be delayed, leaving Brisbane Entertainment Centre staff scrambling to adjust.
Fans were also left disappointed by a sudden ban on posters, which prevented concertgoers from bringing signs into the venue on the first night of Drake’s Brisbane shows.
The decision marked a stark contrast to concerts in Sydney and Melbourne, where a flood of signs saw fans openly asking the philanthropic rapper for money.
The trend, which led to Drake handing out thousands of dollars to fans, had some likening his Sydney shows to a “GoFundMe page in real life”.
Originally published as No water, toilets or food: Drake fan fury at two-hour wait
Rockers tempted to quit after Aussie tour
An iconic noughties rock band are heading back to Australia, a decade after their last shows here almost made them call time on the band.
Hey superstars, in case you didn’t realise – Brisbane’s back, baby
Queensland audiences are passionate, loyal, and loud. We turn up. We sell out. We know every word. Now we have the stadium we deserve, and it’s up to you deliver for us, writes Georgia Clelland.