SZA, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer known for hits like “The Weekend” and “Good Days”, has developed a major fanbase in New York City. As of October 2023, SZA has not announced any upcoming tour dates or concerts in NYC. However, given her popularity and history of performing in the area, many fans are eagerly anticipating if and when she might schedule a show in the city.
SZA’s Connection to NYC
Even though she hails from St. Louis, SZA has cultivated a strong connection with NYC throughout her career. Some key facts about SZA’s history with New York City include:
- She lived in NYC for a few years when she first moved to pursue music, working multiple jobs to get by.
- SZA recorded her debut album “Ctrl” in NYC studios.
- She has performed headlining shows at major NYC venues like Radio City Music Hall, Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, and Central Park Summerstage.
- SZA has made TV appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” which all film in NYC.
It’s clear NYC holds a special place in SZA’s heart from her formative years starting out in the industry. New York fans have supported her from the beginning and she continues to make TV appearances in the city even as her star has risen. She has a proven track record of successful concerts in NYC as well, making it a prime spot for her tour routes.
Examining SZA’s 2022-2023 Tour Schedule
To analyze if a future SZA concert in NYC might happen, it’s helpful to look at her recent touring activities. Here’s an overview of SZA’s tour schedule over the past year:
Tour | Dates | NYC Concert? |
---|---|---|
Ctrl Tour | April – August 2022 | No |
Special festival performances | Summer – Fall 2022 | No |
Upcoming tour dates TBA | 2023 | Possibly |
As the table shows, SZA did not include a NYC stop on her Ctrl tour in 2022. The tour was limited to just 17 arena shows, focusing on major markets like Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta and Chicago. She played a few festivals but did not perform at any NYC festivals.
So far SZA has not announced her 2023 touring plans. Fans are anticipating she will plan a more extensive tour this year. And based on her NYC connections and success, it seems very likely the city will be part of her routing when she announces new tour dates.
Demand for SZA in NYC
Beyond SZA’s own history with New York, there is huge demand from NYC-based fans who are eager to see her perform live in the city again soon. Some key indicators of high fan demand include:
- SZA has over 3.4 million monthly listeners just from NYC on Spotify, indicating a massive fanbase in the area.
- Her Radio City Music Hall show in 2018 sold out immediately, proving her draw as a headliner.
- Comments across SZA’s social media are flooded with requests for a NYC show announcement whenever she hints at touring.
- SZA’s albums and singles consistently top charts and radio airplay in NYC.
NYC is one of the top media markets and live music destinations in the world. SZA has clearly cemented herself as one of the most popular R&B artists in NYC right now. The demand is very high for her to stage a major headlining show when she decides to tour next. From an audience standpoint, NYC is guaranteed to be a high priority for routing.
Likelihood of Upcoming NYC Concert
Pulling this all together, what are the chances SZA announces a concert date in New York City sometime soon? Here’s an assessment of the overall likelihood:
- Highly likely she tours in 2023 to support her popular new album.
- Very likely her routing includes a NYC stop based on her history and local popularity.
- Possible she plays a festival date in NYC before a full tour.
- Unlikely she skips NYC entirely.
Barring any unforeseen factors, all signs point to SZA scheduling a concert date in New York City as part of her next tour. She has such a strong connection to the city and fanbase locally that it would be very surprising for her not to make a stop. While not guaranteed, fans can remain optimistic the wait for SZA live in NYC may end sometime in 2023!
Which Venue Will She Play?
If SZA does confirm a concert in New York City, which venue might she perform at? Based on the scale of her previous tours and production, the likely venue options include:
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden would allow SZA to stage a major arena show in NYC, likely with multiple dates given the huge demand. MSG has a capacity of ~20,000 that SZA could easily fill.
Barclays Center
Similarly, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center would be another arena venue choice in the NYC area. SZA has proven she can headline arena dates based on her last tour.
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall offers a more intimate, while still large-scale, venue in midtown Manhattan. SZA has history performing here and could likely add multiple dates.
Central Park Summerstage
Central Park’s outdoor Summerstage theater would also be a great NYC venue choice if SZA decides to perform during warmer months.
All of these top New York City venues seem primed to host a huge SZA concert whenever she brings her next tour through town. Fans can start speculating which venue would be ideal! But most importantly, they’ll be on standby ready to buy tickets as soon as SZA’s next NYC show gets confirmed.
How Quickly Will Tickets Sell Out?
Given SZA’s popularity in New York City, it’s very likely her concert tickets will sell out extremely quickly. Here are some predictions for how fast tickets might sell:
- VIP/early bird tickets: Sell out within hours or instantly if pre-sale codes are highly shared on fan pages.
- General admission floor seats: May last a few days but will go fast with floor tickets in highest demand.
- Lower bowl seats: Could sell out within a week depending on the venue size and number of dates.
- Upper levels: Still likely to sell out eventually unless her team adds a very high number of shows. Even nosebleed seats will be hot commodities!
SZA has the popularity to completely sell out an NYC show, probably in record time. Scalpers and resellers may buy up tickets quickly too. Fans should be prepared to hop online and get seats secured the moment her concert is announced before the inevitable sell out.
How Much Will Tickets Cost?
Pricing for SZA’s future NYC concert will depend on the exact venue and seat location. However, her tickets will certainly be in high demand. Here are some projected price ranges:
Ticket Type | Price Range |
---|---|
VIP/Front Pit | $200-400+ |
Lower Bowl | $100-200 |
Upper Bowl | $60-120 |
These prices are just estimates but indicate the premium costs superstar acts like SZA can charge, especially for front row tickets in a major market like NYC. Prices also often skyrocket on secondary reseller sites once tickets sell out.
Overall budgets in the $150+ range should be expected to get into an SZA NYC show. But for her dedicated NYC fanbase, the experience of seeing her live will be well worth the ticket costs.
Will She Add More Dates?
If SZA performs at one of NYC’s major arenas like MSG or Barclays Center, it’s very possible she could add additional shows if tickets sell out extremely fast. Extra concert dates allow more fans a chance to attend and for the singer to maximize profits.
Looking at pop superstars like Taylor Swift who typically play 5+ nights in a row at big NYC venues, SZA could potentially tack on extra dates to meet demand too.
Multi-night arena residencies are very common practice for today’s top touring artists. If her NYC tickets evaporate instantly, it would be smart to announce a series of consecutive shows shortly after.
Opening Acts
Whenever SZA hits the road, fans not only look forward to seeing her but also potential opening acts who could share the bill. Here are some guesses for artists who might open for SZA in NYC:
- Summer Walker – Fellow popular R&B singer who is SZA’s friend and contemporary.
- Giveon – Another contemporary R&B peer who has toured with SZA before.
- Kehlani – Previous collaborator and duet partner on hit song “Doves in the Wind”.
- Local NYC artists – Could feature rising NYC rappers, DJs, or singers.
These are just predictions, but SZA has many connections to her fellow R&B stars and often features guests during her live shows. Fans are excited at the possibilities of special collaborative moments on tour.
Setlist Expectations
With two hit albums now in her discography, SZA has more than enough beloved songs to create an amazing setlist. Fans are already daydreaming about what she might perform in NYC! Here are likely inclusions:
- “Kill Bill”
- “Love Galore”
- “The Weekend”
- “Broken Clocks”
- “Good Days”
- “I Hate U”
- “Shirt”
- “Garden”
Beyond singles, SZA is sure to perform deep cuts, B-sides, and fan favorite album tracks. An SZA concert is the perfect chance to vibe out to songs you don’t hear often on the radio. She could even bring out surprise guests for duets like Isaiah Rashad, Travis Scott, or Doja Cat.
After years away from the NYC stage, fans can expect SZA to make up for lost time with an extensive setlist matching her discography. It will be a night of nonstop hits!
How to Prepare for an SZA Concert in NYC
When SZA finally returns to NYC for a show, fans can take the following steps to make sure they are prepared for an epic concert experience:
- Get tickets – Ensure you obtain tickets through official sources like Ticketmaster. Expect to pay higher resale prices later if you don’t buy early.
- Book travel/lodging – If traveling to NYC, book flights and secure hotel rooms ASAP before prices rise.
- Learn the lyrics – Refresh yourself on all of SZA’s music in the weeks leading up so you can passionately sing along.
- Buy merch online – Get your t-shirt, hoodie, etc early online so you don’t have to wait at the busy venue.
- Make a playlist – Create a playlist of SZA’s discography to get hyped.
- Invite friends – Convince your friends to see SZA so you have a crew ready to turn up together.
- Follow tour news – Check SZA’s socials and fan sites regularly so you have updates on any concert news.
By actively preparing yourself ahead of time, you’ll ensure you are ready to have an incredible time at SZA’s NYC show. It will be a night to remember, especially with how long fans have waited to see her back in the city again!
Conclusion
In summary, while not guaranteed just yet, there is a strong likelihood that massively popular R&B star SZA schedules a concert date in New York City as part of her future touring plans in 2023. The combination of her deep ties to NYC, huge local fan demand, and lack of recent area performances point to a NYC show happening when she announces her next tour.
Once confirmed, SZA’s NYC date is sure to be a hot ticket. Prices will be high and sell outs quick. But it would be worth it for locals to secure seats and finally see SZA crush a headlining set in their city once again. She has forged a major connection with the NYC crowd since the start of her career. All signs indicate they have not seen the last of SZA performing live in New York!