Seeing Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena? Everything to Know, From Parking to Bag Policies

The Barbz will be convening in Oakland Arena on Friday night, where Nicki Minaj will be launching her first solo tour in eight years: Pink Friday 2 World Tour.

As you prepare for the night when Oakland will become “Gag City” on March 1, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at the venue or just getting in and out of the crowded, hectic stadium as painlessly as possible. Keep reading for our at-a-glance information on parking options, bag policy, public transit and more.

(And if you’re not attending the Nicki Minaj show on Friday but you live, work or commute in the region? This guide might not be for you, but you should be prepared for I-880 around surrounding routes to potentially be busy on Friday night before or after the show.)

Empty soft plastic bottles are allowed, as well as binoculars and still cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches.

Be careful if you’re choosing to stash anything in your vehicle during the show, as break-ins are unfortunately common around the Bay Area. Don’t leave anything on display in your car, especially electronics like laptops — even if you think they’re hidden from view.

Tickets are still being offered on Ticketmaster, which is the most official way to secure your seat at the Nicki Minaj show for $88 and up. (If you need accessible tickets, be sure to filter for them on Ticketmaster’s website.) You can also find resales on sites like StubHub or look for better deals and seats on Facebook marketplace resales and Eventbrite.

If you’re buying a resale ticket, a note: The Better Businesses Bureau issued a warning about resale scams during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. Check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real. And if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card, says the BBB. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.

If you are getting a resale from a friend, make sure you call your friend directly — to make sure someone isn’t impersonating them online.