Tight security greets the Grande faithful
Even a typical Kiwi spring deluge failed to put a dampener on the most loyal of Ariana Grande’s Auckland fans last night.
As the wind chilled the thousands huddled together in huge queues around Spark Arena, waiting to get into the show, few would complain.
Security had been tightened for the sell-out 11,000-capacity show, following the Manchester bomb attack that killed 22 of the US pop princess’ fans in May.
Grande went on to cancel 10 of her shows, after hosting the One Love tribute show alongside some of pop music’s biggest stars including Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Coldplay.
The Dangerous Woman World Tour restarted in August.
Spark Arena security scanned every patron on the night and enforced a strict no-bag or camera policy. Security told concertgoers the extra measures were put in place at the request of Grande.
While fans waited for up to 45 minutes to enter the venue after doors opened, most people appeared to appreciate the extra security clogging up the gates.
Briana Barton, 11, waited for about 20 minutes to reach the security check but the chilly wait wasn’t an issue for this selfprofessed ‘‘super fan’’. Barton said she would have been happy to wait longer for the chance to see Grande. Her cousin, Donelle Stevenson, said she normally made her way to the arena ‘‘in seconds’’.
‘‘I’ve never been through something like this in New Zealand,’’ she said. ‘‘I personally feel very safe without this, but I respect why they’ve done it.’’
The lines had settled down by the time Grande was due on stage.
DJ Baby Please briefly warmed up the crowd, dotted with jumping fans sporting Grande’s signature bunny ears.
Grande’s world tour started in February, in the US.
Last night’s Auckland performance marks the start of the last leg of the tour with just nine more – including Australian cities next week – before the final show in Singapore on September 21.