Thousands brave triple digits and long lines to see Shakira at Valley Children's Stadium
While many were able to get in early, others faced a night of frustration before ever setting foot inside the stadium.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Thousands of fans waited through intense heat and long lines to see and hear Shakira perform on stage.
It was the first concert ever held at Valley Children's Stadium.
More than 30,000 fans lined up to catch a glimpse of the global superstar.
While many were able to get in early, others faced a night of frustration before ever setting foot inside the stadium.
The long wait to get through the gate tested the tempers of many fans.
Once the superstar started the show, all eyes shifted to Shakira.
The show started more than an hour past schedule -- as people were still waiting to get inside.
We spoke with several fans after the show.
While some did not like the long lines, they loved the singer's performance.
"It was not very organized, but this is our first one," said one fan. "Come on, Fresno State. We can make the next one better!"
"Everything about the concert was beautiful, from the costumes to the makeup, the vocals," said another fan. "She may have been lip-syncing, but it was beautiful!"
Originally, the show was supposed to start at 7:30 pm. The time was pushed back to 8:30 pm, but Shakira didn't take the stage until 9:30 pm.
She did put on two hours of what many said was a great concert, with fireworks at the end of the show.
We received a statement from Fresno State Athletics regarding the Shakira concert.
They apologized for the late gate opening and the long lines to enter the stadium, saying in part, "Tonight, we fell short. That's on us."
They say the delay was due to their own issues and not Shakira or her team, who were ready to perform right on time.
They say they'll learn from this to bring another world-class act to Fresno.
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