Katy Perry Faces an Emptying Arena at Jingle Ball Due to NYC Train Schedules

Katy Perry closed out the 2024 Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden on Friday, December 13, but the final act of the star-studded event didn’t go as planned. As the 40-year-old pop icon performed, the arena began to empty, with fans streaming out before the show officially ended.

Katy, ever the pro, addressed the situation mid-set. “Hi everyone. I know, I know, it’s crazy. It’s so late, it’s so cold outside. You had way too much sugar,” she joked, referencing her iconic track Hot n Cold. “You don’t know whether to stay or go, or be in or out, or hot or cold. Just make up your mind then!”

Fans later took to TikTok to explain the exodus wasn’t a snub to Katy, but rather a mad dash to catch the last trains out of New York City. With the concert ending late and many attendees dependent on public transportation, timing became a logistical nightmare. One fan noted that staying through Katy’s final performance left her stranded in the city until 4 a.m.

The Jingle Ball lineup included performances from Tate McRae, The Kid LAROI, Meghan Trainor, and Twenty One Pilots, along with appearances by celebrities like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Martha Stewart, and Queer Eye’s Fab Five.

Despite the challenges, Katy delivered a powerhouse performance, proving once again why she’s a pop legend—even if fans had to leave early.

What do you think about the scheduling issues that impacted Katy Perry’s Jingle Ball performance? Should event organizers better accommodate transportation needs in the future? Share your thoughts below!