Daddy Yankee is one of the most popular and influential reggaeton artists of all time. The Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, rapper, actor and record producer has sold over 30 million records worldwide and has won several Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.
With global hits like “Gasolina,” “Rompe” and “Despacito,” Daddy Yankee has helped bring reggaeton into the mainstream music scene. He announced his retirement in 2022, leaving fans wondering if they’ll get to see him perform live one last time.
Daddy Yankee’s Popularity and Influence
Known as the “King of Reggaeton,” Daddy Yankee has been a pioneer of Latin urban music since the 1990s. He helped popularize reggaeton in Puerto Rico early in his career, then brought the genre to new audiences worldwide with his 2004 album Barrio Fino and its hit single “Gasolina.”
Daddy Yankee’s music fused reggaeton with pop, dancehall, and hip hop influences. This helped make reggaeton more accessible to mainstream audiences. Yankee would top charts again in 2017 with “Despacito,” his collaboration with Luis Fonsi. The smash hit became the most streamed song of all time.
With a career spanning over three decades, Daddy Yankee has sold out concerts in massive venues like New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Los Angeles Coliseum. His live shows are known for their energy and Yankee’s charismatic stage presence.
Daddy Yankee’s Retirement Announcement
In March 2022, Daddy Yankee surprised fans by announcing his impending retirement from music. He said he would be releasing one final album, Legendaddy, and embarking on one last concert tour before hanging up his mic.
Legendaddy was released on March 24, 2022. In a video posted to social media, Yankee reflected “This career has been a marathon. I’ve finally seen the finish line.” He expressed pride in his lasting impact, stating “I always worked to not only be the best, but to also leave a legacy.”
Will Daddy Yankee Tour the US?
Given Yankee’s popularity stateside, many fans wondered if his final tour would include US dates. On April 21, 2022, their questions were answered when tour dates were announced for La Ultima Vuelta World Tour. This final tour includes over 70 shows across North America, Latin America and Europe.
La Ultima Vuelta US Dates
Daddy Yankee’s US tour dates span from August to December 2022. Here are the confirmed concerts scheduled in major US cities:
City | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|
Portland, OR | Moda Center | August 23 |
San Jose, CA | SAP Center | August 26 |
Las Vegas, NV | MGM Grand Garden Arena | August 27 |
Rosemont, IL | Allstate Arena | September 1 |
Boston, MA | TD Garden | September 2 |
Washington, DC | Capital One Arena | September 4 |
New York City, NY | Madison Square Garden | September 6-7 |
Miami, FL | FTX Arena | September 9 |
Orlando, FL | Amway Center | September 10 |
Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena | September 11 |
Newark, NJ | Prudential Center | September 14 |
Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena | September 16-17 |
Chicago, IL | United Center | September 18 |
Houston, TX | Toyota Center | September 22 |
Dallas, TX | American Airlines Center | September 23 |
Los Angeles, CA | Crypto.com Arena | September 30 |
Sacramento, CA | Golden 1 Center | October 1 |
San Diego, CA | Pechanga Arena | October 2 |
Denver, CO | Ball Arena | October 7 |
Hidalgo, TX | Payne Arena | October 8 |
Phoenix, AZ | Footprint Center | October 9 |
Setlist Expectations
Given this is Daddy Yankee’s farewell tour, fans can expect him to perform career-spanning setlists packed with his greatest hits. He’s sure to sing classics like “Gasolina,” “Rompe,” “Limbo,” “Despacito,” “Con Calma” and more. Yankee will want to incorporate new songs from Legendaddy as well.
Concertgoers can anticipate electric, high-energy shows as Daddy Yankee gives his all one last time onstage. Extended live versions of songs, special effects and choreographed dancers have been Daddy Yankee concert staples. Fans might get treated to some special guest appearances too.
Demand and Ticket Availability
Considering Daddy Yankee’s broad popularity and the historic significance of this farewell tour, demand for tickets is expected to be extremely high.
Pre-Sale Ticket Access
Various pre-sales offered early ticket access before the general public on-sale:
– Fan club members and VIP package buyers got first pre-sale on April 20.
– Citi cardholders had a pre-sale on April 21.
– Spotify listeners were given a pre-sale code on April 21.
– Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers had pre-sales on April 21-22.
General Public On-Sale
Remaining tickets became available to the general public on April 22 at 10am local venue time. But many desirable seats had already been snatched up in pre-sales.
Sold Out Shows
Not surprisingly, Daddy Yankee’s concerts are selling out fast. Several tour stops like Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and the second NYC show are already completely sold out. More sellouts are imminent.
Fans unable to get tickets will keep checking for last-minute ticket releases as show dates approach. Limited numbers of seats may become available if production holds tickets or others return them. Still, tickets on the primary market are scarce.
Secondary Market Prices
With scarce ticket supply and huge demand, secondary market prices have spiked. Resale sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek show astronomical asking prices.
Getting into Yankee’s NYC shows now costs a minimum of $200 per ticket before fees, with floor seats priced at $1,500 and up. Even upper deck seats are going for $400-500 each in secondary markets.
Miami and Los Angeles ticket prices are similarly inflated, with get-in prices around $250 and floor tickets priced in the thousands. More affordable seats can be found in some markets like Portland and Sacramento, but secondary market costs are inflated everywhere.
How to Get Tickets
For those still hoping to get tickets, here are some tips:
– Check venue and artist pre-sales for any last-minute ticket releases. Also look for fan club and VIP package pre-sales which may get added.
– Try the general on-sale again in case a few tickets get released at the last minute. Have accounts set up and payment ready to go on Ticketmaster and AXS.
– Sign up for Daddy Yankee’s email newsletter and social media alerts. Last-minute tickets are sometimes announced there.
– Follow Daddy Yankee’s tour hashtags like #DaddyYankeeTour and #DYWTour to look for fan ticket giveaways.
– Check secondary resellers frequently for price drops. Listings will fluctuate, so compare sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek.
– Consider traveling to a nearby city if your local show is sold out. Look for cities within driving distance that have cheaper resale prices.
– As a last resort, check at the venue box office on the day of the show. There may be production holds or last-minute ticket releases. Get there very early to line up.
Conclusion
Daddy Yankee’s La Ultima Vuelta farewell tour is undoubtedly one of the hottest concert tickets of 2022. The reggaeton icon will be playing his greatest hits across North America to say goodbye to fans after his decades-long career.
With many shows already sold out and resale prices extremely high, buying tickets will be very difficult at this point. But Yankee fans who act strategically still have chances to get seats by monitoring pre-sales, secondary markets, and the box office. Catching one of Daddy Yankee’s final electrifying performances would truly be a night to remember.