Country superstar Zach Bryan may be from Oklahoma, but he sure knows the backstreets of New Jersey.
Bryan — who plays Friday, July 18; Saturday, July 19; and Sunday, July 20, on his Quittin’ Time Tour at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford — recorded a song called “Oak Island” for his 2024 “The Great American Bar Scene” album.
Fans assumed the track was about Oak Island, North Carolina, but it actually refers to the Oak Island Yard train depot in the Ironbound section of Newark.
“We were playing in Brooklyn. I was living on a bus in parking lot in Secaucus, NJ, for two days. We passed a shipyard called Oak Island,” explained Bryan on social media when a fan asked him about the backstory of the song.
Zach Bryan performs at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale on Dec. 3, 2024.
The Kings of Leon and the Front Bottoms, Jersey guys, will open the shows. Another Jersey guy, Bruce Springsteen, joined Bryan on stage last year in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. If the Boss does play with Bryan at MetLife this weekend, he’ll pass Oak Island on the New Jersey Turnpike on the way up.
Check out our Everything You Need to Know below, compiled from information provided by MetLife Stadium and our reporting.
Zach Bryan setlist
Below is the setlist for Bryan’s last show, June 29 at Hyde Park in London.
Tickets
The shows are sold out but secondary market tickets start around $200 and go up to $400 for the pit in front of the stage.
Box office/Ticketmaster will call: Located at trailer outside MetLife Gate opens at 2 p.m. Check your tickets and make sure you have the correct ticket date. Barcodes will appear on mobile tickets eight hours before the show.
Floor tickets: Early lineup location is outside the HCLTech Gate, starting no earlier than 2 p.m. Guests with GA (Energy Floor) and reserved floor tickets may enter any gate and proceed to the HCLTech Gate for an additional ticket scan and to receive a wristband. Expect 20 minutes to 30 minutes for the secondary scan and wristband process.
Zach Bryan at MetLife Schedule
2 p.m.: Parking lots and ticket trailer open; merchandise tent in Lot E opens
2 p.m.: Coach USA bus service begins
4:53 p.m.: NJ Transit rail service begins for Friday show; 4:29 p.m. NJ Transit rail service begins for Saturday and Sunday shows.
5:30 p.m.: Stadium gates open
7 p.m.: Concert begins
How do I get to MetLife Stadium?
Rideshare: Designated rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.) pick-up/drop-off location is in Lot E. Rideshare surge pricing is often in effect after the event. Larger crowds will result in longer than usual wait times for a car to arrive (can be up to two-hour wait). Make sure your phone is charged and ready to go if you’re planning to use one of these services.
Non-rideshare pick-up/drop-off: Drop off located on the stadium roadway between Lots D and E. Pick up in in Lots D or K, accessible after 9 p.m. Persons dropping off concert attendees are encouraged to park and remain with their vehicle or visit American Dream to avoid excessive traffic at pickup.
NJ TRANSIT: Trains will operate between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium on the Meadowlands Rail Line from 4:53 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Friday. Trains depart from 4:29 pm. to 8:47 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. After the concert, the last train from MetLife Stadium to Secaucus will not depart Meadowlands Station any earlier than 1 a.m. Visit NJ Transit here for train timetables and more into.
COACH USA: Bus service will run starting 2 p.m. from Port Authority Area X (41st Street between 8th and 9th avenues) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The last bus will leave the stadium 60 minutes after the concert ends. Visit here for more information and tickets.
Levi Turner takes the stage ahead of Zach Bryan at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale on Dec. 3, 2024.
Parking at MetLife Stadium
Parking lots open: 2 p.m.
Day of event parking cost: $40 per car; $160 per Bus/RV
Parking directions: metlifestadium.com/getting-here/general-event-parking-information
Prepaid Parking: Visit here for parking passes.
Weather report
Clouds with highs in the mid 80s for Friday and Saturday; chance of thunderstorms for Sunday. The shows are rain or shine. No umbrellas are allowed.
Can I tailgate before the Zach Bryan shows at MetLife?
Tailgating policy: Tailgating is permitted but drones, model aircraft, kites and any other remote-controlled or tethered flying objects are not permitted. Tailgating should be limited to the lined parking space and the area directly behind or in front of each vehicle. Blocking drive lanes is prohibited. Tailgating is also permitted on the medians that separate the parking lots from the roadways. Visit here for details.
Clear bag policy in effect at MetLife
Clear bags of any style 12-by-6-by-12 inches or smaller are allowed
Bags must be completely clear and free of any color tint or pattern
Non-clear small purses/wallets no larger than 4.5-by-6.5 inches also permitted. Limit one bag per person
Permitted items at MetLife Stadium
Non-professional still photography camera with a lens that is 6 inches or less in length (no case or detachable lens)
Empty reusable water bottles (plastic or aluminum), no larger than 20 ounces
Factory sealed canned or plastic water/soft-drink bottles 20 ounces or less
Food in a clear plastic bag or wrapping
Medically necessary items
Ponchos or raincoats (no umbrellas)
Binoculars (not in a case)
Small, hand-held USB-charged personal fans
Small portable phone charger
Prohibited items at MetLife Stadium
No cameras with a lens longer than 6 inches
No drones, video cameras, GoPro’s, or selfie sticks
No signs, banners or flags
No umbrellas (bring a raincoat/poncho instead)
No laser pointers, noisemakers, strollers
No outside alcohol of any kind
No seat cushions except those for medical needs
No glass bottles, coolers, thermoses or ice chests
No weapons of any kind
No displaying of indecent messages/language on any printed material, including but not limited to, clothing, hats, signs, banners, flags, etc. per the MetLife Stadium Guest Code of Conduct. Any other item deemed inappropriate by stadium management.
Where can I charge my cell phone at MetLife?
Mobile charging kiosks are available in the following locations for mobile devices: outside the gates at bag check trailers at all entrance gates; Plaza Level at the West and East VIP Lobbies; 200 Concourse at Sections 227 and 249, Miller Lite MVP Club elevator lobby, Corona Beach Club elevator lobby; Ticketmaster Suites at the West and East Concierge Desks on the third, fifth and sixth floors.
Visit the MetLife Stadium A-Z Guide at metlifestadium.com/guest-services/a-z-guide for more information.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Zach Bryan at MetLife Stadium: Everything you need to know
