NJ Transit won't provide service for Shakira concerts at MetLife, citing potential strike
Shakira is set to perform at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday and Friday. Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Andre Coelho
Due to a potential rail strike, NJ Transit announced it would not operate trains or buses to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the Shakira concerts on Thursday and Friday.
Representatives for both NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers were summoned to Washington, D.C., on Monday for last-ditch negotiations by the National Mediation Board, but have failed to reach a contract agreement.
The union said a strike or lockout could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. Friday.
In a post Monday on X, NJ Transit wrote: "Due to the potential rail service stoppage, NJ TRANSIT will not be operating train or bus service to MetLife Stadium for the Shakira concerts on May 15th and 16th," and referred patrons to the MetLife website for more information.
On that site, officials said concertgoers could access Coach USA bus service for transit between the Port Authority in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, but noted advance ticket purchase was required for the 351 Express.
It also said attendees planning to carpool or use ride-share services such as Uber, Lyft and other services face "significant delays and higher surge pricing" due to the projected size of the event crowd — meaning wait times for ride-share services could run two hours or more.
Officials suggested those using carpools or ride-shares arrange to be dropped off at the American Dream mall, which they note "is within walking distance" of the MetLife Stadium parking lots.
The shows featuring the Grammy Award-winning singer are expected to sell out the 82,500-seat stadium.
NJ Transit provides transit rail service to an estimated 800,000 commuters daily.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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'Just disappointing and ... sad' The proportion of drivers who refused to take a test after being pulled over by trained officers doubled over five years. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.
