Beyonce in Tampa: Guide to tickets, parking, outfits and more
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We’re about a week away from Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour rolling into Tampa. But before you get in formation at 8 p.m. on Aug. 16, here’s the info you need to know.
Queen Bey hasn’t come to Tampa since 2016. Her long-awaited return to Raymond James Stadium promises to be a spectacle, with over 30 songs, gloriously sparkly set pieces and elaborate costume changes.
What can we expect to see and hear at the Renaissance World Tour?
According to setlist.fm, Beyoncé has been stacking her nearly three-hour set with most of the songs from her 2022 album “Renaissance.” The record is filled with sexy, clubby house and disco tracks inspired by her late Uncle Jonny and the Black queer community.
“He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album,” Beyoncé said in an open letter to her fans. “Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long. This is a celebration for you.”
The songs are inspired by the ballroom scene, an underground LGBTQ+ subculture created by Black and Latino drag queens. Beyoncé has been including the Progress Pride Flag in her tour visuals. There could also be a tribute to Beyoncé fan O’Shae Sibley, a 28-year-old professional dancer and gay man who was killed last weekend at a Brooklyn gas station while vogueing to “Renaissance.” Bey already posted a message on her website following Sibley’s death.
Aside from a possible DJ, there will not be an opener. Fans should also be on the lookout for surprise appearances from 11-year-old Blue Ivy Carter, who has been popping onstage to perform with her mom in some cities.
Are tickets still available?
Ticketmaster still has tickets available, starting in the $140s and soaring up to $3,501 for VIP seating. Vividseats.com has resale tickets starting in the $90s. There are several Beyoncé ticket exchange groups on Facebook, but exercise caution to avoid getting scammed.
How do I get to Raymond James Stadium?
If you plan to park
In the hours leading up to the concert, expect traffic along Dale Mabry Highway, Himes Avenue, Columbus Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Download Waze for up-to-date traffic information.
Spots can be booked ahead of time on Park Whiz, vividseats.com and spothero.com, with prices starting at about $45 or so. Residents of the neighborhood around the stadium usually sell parking spots the day of, starting at about $20. Bring cash.
If you plan to take the bus
HART bus routes 7, 15, 32, 36 and 45 service the stadium. Check gohart.org for updates and more info.
If you plan to get dropped off
Uber and Lyft are popular options for getting to Raymond James Stadium, but brace yourself for surge pricing and long waits after the show. Pickups take place at the George M. Steinbrenner lot across the street, which can be accessed via a pedestrian bridge. For more information, visit raymondjamesstadium.com/gettinghere.
Which items can I bring to the Renaissance World Tour?
Raymond James Stadium has a no-bag policy for all of its events. Guests can bring one clutch purse no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. You can rent a locker on Tom McEwen Boulevard, south of Gate C.
If you need a larger bag for medical reasons, fill out the special needs request form (found at raymondjamesstadium.com/rjsada) at least 72 hours before the event.
Bring your credit card or set up Apple Pay on your phone. Raymond James is a cashless stadium.
What should I leave at home?
Cameras with detachable lenses, or with lenses that exceed 12 inches
Large electronic devices such as digital readers, iPads or laptops
Aerosol or spray bottles of sunscreen
Tobacco (including e-cigarettes and vaporizers)
Food and drink
Cans, bottles, glass and coolers
Horns, lasers and artificial noisemakers
Illegal drugs and weapons
Recreational balls, seat cushions
Selfie sticks, gimbals or extenders
Strollers
Umbrellas (rain ponchos, however, are permitted)
Unmanned aircraft systems and radio-controlled model aircraft-drones. (These are also prohibited on stadium property, including parking lots.)
Video cameras and GoPros
What will the weather be like in Tampa?
This concert is an outdoor event. Tampa in August means expecting humid, hot, miserable and possibly rainy weather.
As of Tuesday morning, the forecast showed a high of 93 degrees for Wednesday. Nicole Carlisle, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Ruskin, said it should cool down a little by the time Bey takes the stage around 9 p.m. Expect temperatures in the mid to high 80s during the show.
Fans may see some rain on their way to the venue, but any precipitation should clear up before the concert.
“There could be some showers and storms, but most of it should start to shift eastward by the late afternoon hours. It’s summertime in Florida,” Carlisle said. “Just try to stay hydrated.”
What should I wear to the Renaissance World Tour?
Many fans are taking inspiration from the Renaissance album’s aesthetic — anything sexy, shimmery, futuristic and fit for an extraterrestrial disco goes. In other words, channel your inner Alien Superstar. You can find mirror ball-style cowboy hats similar to the one Beyoncé wears on the tour poster on Etsy, Amazon and Party City. You also can’t go wrong with anything honeybee-themed or lemonade-yellow.
Bey will be singing for a while, so make sure your footwear is supportive and comfortable. A tip we picked up from Swifties during the Eras Tour: If you want to wear a more fashionable shoe to match your outfit, bring along thick, squishy socks to slip on during the show so you can dance at your seat comfortably.
What about Beyoncé merchandise?
According to Bustle.com, there will be merchandise trucks in and outside of the stadium on the day of the show. If you don’t have a ticket, the outside trucks should be accessible. Apparently, the wait has not been as bad as it was during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
TikTok videos from other cities show tote bags priced at $35, T-shirts starting at $55 and hoodies at $125. The most practical item? A large folding fan that says “HEATED.”
If all else fails, Beyonce is selling an online-exclusive Renaissance collection, from T-shirts to sweatpants, at amazon.com/beyoncé.
