Thousands of concertgoers flooded the streets of Santa Clara after Bruno Mars performed before a sold-out crowd at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday night.
Mars was scheduled to play two shows at the stadium over the weekend, the final two U.S. dates on his The Romantics Tour.
Severe traffic around Levi’s Stadium is a familiar problem after major events. Concerts and games in the area often lead to gridlock, delays lasting several hours and extensive road closures.
“Traffic took like a maximum of two hours getting out,” Alyssa Ariel of Fremont told NBC Bay Area.
Gizelle M., an Oakland resident, brought extra batteries because she expected to spend a long time stuck in traffic. “It’s horrible,” she told the news outlet.
One user on X shared a giddy reaction after selling his ticket to the concert.
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“I saw what that Levi Stadium crowd looked like last night … Never been happier to sell a ticket in my life,” the user posted.
The Santa Clara Police Department had warned drivers ahead of the weekend performances that major delays and street closures were expected throughout the South Bay.
Officials anticipated heavy congestion on Highways 101, 237 and 880, along with the Lawrence, Great America and San Tomas expressways. Tasman Drive was scheduled to remain closed from 1:30 a.m. Saturday through the conclusion of Sunday’s event.
The traffic advisory said authority-directed detours could affect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. It also called for the closure of the San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail at Agnew Road beginning at 8 a.m. on both days.
The police department said parking lots would open at 4 p.m. for people with pre-purchased permits only. Rideshare pickups were limited to Red Lot 7.
Mars was set to return to the Levi’s Stadium stage at 7 p.m. Sunday for his final Santa Clara performance before concluding the tour next weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia.
