Beyonce in Atlanta: Cowboy Carter's opens historic four-night run at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Young BeyHive crew attends first Beyonce concert

They came all the way from Baltimore to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to see Beyonce's Cowboy Carter residency this weekend. Here's a look at what they expect and what their forecast will be waiting to get inside.

ATLANTA - The Queen Bee has arrived. Beyoncé will open her four-night Cowboy Carter residency at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday night, transforming downtown Atlanta into a stage of Southern spectacle and fan-fueled celebration. 

From cowboy hats to couture fringe, tens of thousands are expected to be dressed in theme, ready for a night of country swagger and pop power.

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Cowboy Carter Atlanta opening night forecast

Beyonce's Cowboy Carter pulls into Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a four-night residency. Here's a look at the forecast for the first night.

Cowboy Carter merch, show times, etc.

Timeline:

The venue opened its parking lots at 2 p.m., with fans lining up at merch stands before the sun hit its peak. 

Exterior merchandise booths outside Gates 1 and 2 were open to the public, while nearly 15 more were located throughout the stadium. 

Some fans reported lines stretching for hours, with special edition shirts, hats and posters selling quickly.

Stadium gates opened at 5:30 p.m., and the show began around 8 p.m. — on time and without an opener. 

The retractable roof was closed by Beyoncé’s request, and the stadium’s signature Halo Board remained off, placing full focus on the stage lighting, set design, and massive screen arrays. 

Fans with floor seats were required to enter through Gate 1, next to the giant soccer ball sculpture. 

Other entry points were closed to floor access.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium security

Dig deeper:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s clear bag policy was strictly enforced, causing delays for some attendees. 

Only transparent bags under 12" x 12" x 6" were allowed; non-clear clutches had to be under 4.5" x 6.5". 

Staff and security moved lines efficiently, but those arriving late found themselves in thick crowds.

Beyonce transportation

What you can do:

MARTA stepped up its operations for the event, running extra rail service and dedicated shuttle trains between Five Points and GWCC. 

The transit agency deployed Transit Ambassadors, Load and Go teams, and uniformed police throughout the system to guide passengers and maintain crowd control. 

Riders were advised to avoid Five Points Station, which is under construction and accessible only via Peachtree and Forsyth. 

The agency recommended using GWCC or Vine City for direct stadium access.

What's next:

Despite overlapping events in the city, no major issues are expected on Thursday night. Beyoncé is expected to deliver a 30+ song set filled with choreography, live vocals, and new arrangements of hits from Cowboy Carter and beyond.