Los Angeles is buzzing like a hive on fire. Tonight, April 29, 2025, Beyoncé takes the stage at SoFi Stadium to launch her much-hyped "Cowboy Carter" tour, and the city’s practically vibrating with anticipation. Fans have been camped out since dawn, their cowboy hats and glittery boots turning Inglewood into a rhinestone-studded sea. The air smells of street tacos and excitement, with scalpers whispering ticket prices that could buy a used car. This isn’t just a concert—it’s a cultural moment, and the clock’s ticking down to showtime.
The tour, named after Beyoncé’s chart-dominating "Cowboy Carter" album, marks her first major live run since the record dropped last year. Official announcements from Live Nation confirm the Los Angeles kickoff includes five sold-out shows at SoFi, with tonight’s opener setting the tone for a global trek expected to hit 30 cities. The stadium, which seats 70,000, has been transformed into a high-tech spectacle, with a massive circular stage and LED screens that could light up a small town. Rehearsals, which started weeks ago at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium, have been shrouded in secrecy, but crew members let slip that the setlist leans heavily on the new album’s country-infused bangers, with a few surprise throwbacks.
City officials are bracing for chaos. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation issued a traffic advisory on April 16, warning of road closures around SoFi from 4 p.m. daily through the five-show run. Metro’s added extra trains, and police are out in force, their radios crackling with updates on crowd control. By noon, fans were already clogging Hawthorne Boulevard, some waving signs begging for spare tickets. The city’s seen big shows before, but this feels different—like the Super Bowl and a revival meeting got mashed together.
Beyoncé’s team has been tight-lipped, but a press release from Parkwood Entertainment on April 10 promised “a groundbreaking production” with choreography, costumes, and live instrumentation that’ll “redefine the concert experience.” The album’s genre-bending mix—country, pop, and R&B—has already stirred chatter, and tonight’s performance is expected to double down on that vibe. Fans are buzzing about possible guest appearances, though nothing’s confirmed. The only hard fact? Doors open at 6 p.m., and Beyoncé hits the stage at 8 sharp.
Ticket sales tell their own story. Live Nation reported on March 30 that the five SoFi shows sold nearly 350,000 tickets in presale alone, with prices ranging from $75 for nosebleeds to $2,000 for VIP floor seats. Secondary markets are gouging fans, with some seats listed at $10,000. The tour’s projected to gross over $400 million worldwide, a figure that’s got industry insiders nodding respectfully. Los Angeles, though, is where it all begins, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
As the sun dips low, the line outside SoFi stretches half a mile. A group of fans in matching denim jackets sings “Texas Hold ’Em” off-key but with gusto. Food trucks are slinging brisket sliders, a nod to the album’s Southern roots. Inside, stagehands are doing final checks, their walkie-talkies spitting static. The countdown’s on, and Los Angeles is ready to ride.
The "Cowboy Carter" tour starts tonight, April 29, 2025, at SoFi Stadium. Five shows are scheduled in Los Angeles through May 5. The tour will visit 30 cities globally. SoFi Stadium seats 70,000. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. Traffic advisories are in effect around the venue.