Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour” got off to a rocky start as potentially severe weather moving through the area Thursday delayed the start to the three-day concert stand.
On Thursday evening, the National Weather Service announced a tornado watch for the entire Chicago area and northwest Indiana until 10 p.m. In Illinois, 34 separate counties in northern and central Illinois are in the watch zone. Along with the tornado risk the watch notes the possibility of strong wind gusts and large hail.
In a post to social media, Soldier Field officials announced that the gate opening was delayed until 9 p.m. due to potential severe weather. The concert “will not begin before 9 p.m.,” the venue wrote in a post on X.
When the clouds finally parted, fans were treated to a deep dive into Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter,” winner of the Grammy Award for album of the year, with country music and, of course, many stylish Western-themed outfits from both fans and the pop star.
Chicago is Beyoncé’s next stop after opening the tour at Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium. She last appeared in Chicago in 2023 for two nights of her Renaissance tour, in what the Tribune’s critic described as a “multi-act spectacle” that boasted “Broadway-quality props, sensational costumes, opulent interludes and a constant feed of high-definition visuals.”
Here’s what the Beyhive should know before the shows.
Schedule of events
- 3 p.m. On-site parking lots open.
- 5 p.m. Soldier Field gates open.
- About 7 p.m. Show is scheduled to begin. Beyoncé’s performance has lasted around 2 hours and 45 minutes at previous stops.
What can I bring into Soldier Field?
As with all NFL stadiums, bags allowed inside — clear backpacks, clear fanny packs and clear cinch bags — must be plastic, vinyl or PVC and not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches. They also can’t have buckles or decor concealing any part of the bag.
Small, nonclear bags that don’t exceed 4.5 by 6.5 inches in size are also allowed with a clear plastic bag.
Soldier Field also has a sizable list of prohibited items, which includes alcoholic beverages, balloons, signage that can block other fans’ view, noise-making devices and cigarettes.
What’s the weather forecast in Chicago?
Thursday: The National Weather Service predicts scattered showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe, the weather service warned, but they should mainly finish before 9 p.m. The low temperature is 62 degrees at night.
Saturday: The forecast is mostly sunny with a high temperature near 68 degrees and a west wind of 15 to 20 miles per hour. By nighttime, it will be partly cloudy with a low temperature of 51 degrees.
Sunday: The weather service predicts it will be mostly sunny with a high temperature near 57. At nighttime, it’s forecasting a low temperature of 46 degrees and partly cloudy conditions.
Beyoncé, center left, and her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, center right, perform during halftime of an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans on 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
What public transit is available to and from the stadium?
The closest CTA train station to Soldier Field is the Roosevelt Station, which serves the Red, Orange and Green lines. The station is less than a mile walk to the stadium entrance. A CTA spokesperson told the Tribune that the CTA will be running extra service to accommodate fans.
Additional buses will also run on the 146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express route, which stops at Soldier Field. Other bus options that stop at or near the stadium include the 3 King, 4 Cottage Grove and 12 Roosevelt.
A one-day unlimited pass is $5 and a three-day pass is $15. Download the Ventra app to buy and use mobile tickets.
“CTA is the best and most affordable alternative to traffic and avoid the parking hassles of large events across the city,” a spokesperson said.
While Metra isn’t offering extra service, spokesperson Meg Thomas-Reile said suburban fans can save money with a $7 Saturday or Sunday day pass. If you’re coming from the south, Metra Electric Line’s 18th Street stop is a short walk to Soldier Field.
BNSF Railway, Milwaukee North and Milwaukee West lines arrive and depart from Union Station.
Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines arrive and depart from Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Thomas-Reile recommends checking lines’ schedules at metra.com to make sure the schedule works with your travel plans.
Where is dropoff and pickup? (Avoid high heels!)
Fans can be dropped off at the 18th Drive turnaround, which is at the 18th Drive exit ramp west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Traffic may be heavy, however, so dropping off at Columbus Drive or Michigan Avenue might be a better option. Be prepared to walk to Soldier Field from there.
Post-concert pickup for ride-shares and other drivers will be at the intersection of South Columbus Drive and East Balbo Drive.
ADA drop-off and pickup is located at Gate 14 on the east side of the stadium. An ADA placard or ADA license plate is required for access.
Fans with floor tickets should enter the stadium at Gate 0, located on the south end of the stadium.
Is parking available?
All parking lots open at 3 p.m. before the show and can be purchased in advance here. Spots near the stadium — Waldron Deck, Soldier Field South Lot and Soldier Field Planetarium Lot — were listed for $60 as of Thursday morning, but Soldier Field warned that prices are subject to change and that “high demand events” may cost a premium. Additional parking spaces are available in the McCormick Place Lot B and C and the Grant Park South Garage.
Originally Published: May 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM CDT
