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Seeing Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena? Everything to Know, From Parking to Bag Policies

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A female singer in a red body suit and sunglasses extends the mic to the crowd while glancing to the side, surrounded by an audience in mid-performance.
Nicki Minaj performs onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on Sept. 12, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

The Barbz will be convening in Oakland Arena on Friday night, where Nicki Minaj will be launching her first solo tour in eight years: Pink Friday 2 World Tour.

As you prepare for the night when Oakland will become “Gag City” on March 1, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at the venue or just getting in and out of the crowded, hectic stadium as painlessly as possible. Keep reading for our at-a-glance information on parking options, bag policy, public transit and more.

(And if you’re not attending the Nicki Minaj show on Friday but you live, work or commute in the region? This guide might not be for you, but you should be prepared for I-880 around surrounding routes to potentially be busy on Friday night before or after the show.)

Jump straight to:

What time is the Nicki Minaj show at Oakland Arena?

The show will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 1.

The doors at Oakland Area will open at 7 p.m.

What will the weather be like on Friday night in Oakland?

The National Weather Service predicts it will be raining Friday night with “possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m.” Even though the Oakland Arena is an indoor venue, it is best for you to plan ahead for transportation (and bring an umbrella or a hooded coat for your entry and exit).

What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?

Bag check is not available at Oakland Arena, so you should plan ahead accordingly. Some things you cannot bring to the Nicki Minaj show on Friday include:

  • Coolers
  • Any type of backpacks
  • Bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″
  • Cigarettes
  • Weapons or sharp objects
  • Bats and clubs
  • Outside food or beverage (as well as hard side containers like a thermos)
  • Selfie sticks and tripods
  • Strollers and portable chairs
  • Seat cushions
  • Large banners or flags

Empty soft plastic bottles are allowed, as well as binoculars and still cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches.

Be careful if you’re choosing to stash anything in your vehicle during the show, as break-ins are unfortunately common around the Bay Area. Don’t leave anything on display in your car, especially electronics like laptops — even if you think they’re hidden from view.

What should I know about accessibility at Oakland Arena?

Oakland Arena has a guide on its accessibility services, which can be viewed on its website. Accessibility highlights include:

What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?

Official parking spots at Oakland Arena for the Nicki Minaj show are still available on Ticketmaster, with general parking tickets for $40 and VIP parking for $80.

You can check websites like SpotHero for non-stadium parking spots nearby. If you’re doing this, be sure to map the route using a tool like Google Maps, to make sure you know how long you have to walk and the shortest route to do so — and wear comfy footwear.

How to take public transportation to the Nicki Minaj concert

Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the show itself, and be sure of your very last service home.

The Oakland Arena is located near BART, the Capitol Corridor Amtrak train, and AC Transit. If you are taking the BART or Amtrak, you would need to get off the Coliseum Station and cross the ramp to the Arena.

If you are going to take an Uber or Lyft to or from the event, you will need to be picked up at Baldwin Gate. Baldwin Gate opens two hours before the event starts. Be aware that there will likely be a surge charge around this time due to the crowds.

How do I know if I’ve got a good seat at the Nicki Minaj show?

If you are anxious about anything obscuring your sight of the stage or how you want to get to your seat fast, you can check it out on Oakland Arena’s website or A View From My Seat.

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Prepare for a super-crowded stadium experience

There’s no shame in getting a little antsy in big crowds like this — in a packed stadium, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. Read NPR’s full guide on what to do if you find yourself caught in a crowd crush.

According to Mehdi Moussaïd, a research scientist in Berlin who studies crowd behavior, rely on your instincts and senses if you feel like the crowd is getting too dense. If you get stuck in a crush, move with the crowd, put your arms out in front of your chest and hold them there.

“In this position, you would have some space, just a little bit, to push for half a centimeter or just 1 centimeter — enough for you to keep breathing,” Moussaïd said to NPR in 2022. “It’s not going to be comfortable. You’re going to be feeling really bad, but at least you’ll survive.”

Can I still get a ticket for Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena?

Tickets are still being offered on Ticketmaster, which is the most official way to secure your seat at the Nicki Minaj show for $88 and up. (If you need accessible tickets, be sure to filter for them on Ticketmaster’s website.) You can also find resales on sites like StubHub or look for better deals and seats on Facebook marketplace resales and Eventbrite.

If you’re buying a resale ticket, a note: The Better Businesses Bureau issued a warning about resale scams during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. Check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real. And if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card, says the BBB. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.

If you are getting a resale from a friend, make sure you call your friend directly — to make sure someone isn’t impersonating them online.

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