Madonna and concert promoters have moved to dismiss a class-action lawsuit regarding delayed concert start times at her Celebration Tour shows at Barclays Center in December 2023.

The lawsuit, filed by two New York City residents, claims the concerts were advertised to begin at 8:30 PM but didn't start until after 10:30 PM, with shows ending after 1:00 AM. The plaintiffs argue they suffered damages due to transportation issues and wouldn't have purchased tickets had they known about the late start times.

In their defense, Madonna's legal team argues:

• A reasonable concert-goer would understand that doors opening time differs from the headliner's performance time
• Opening acts (like Honey Dijon) typically perform before the main artist
• The plaintiffs didn't prove any specific injuries or increased transportation costs
• Madonna's history of late starts was well-known to fans
• Attendees received a complete, high-quality performance

The defendants also note that the plaintiffs may be subject to Ticketmaster's arbitration clause, depending on where they purchased their tickets. The legal team has requested information about ticket purchases to determine if arbitration applies.

The case (1:24-cv-00357) remains pending, with Madonna's team asserting that fans received exactly what they paid for: a full-length, high-quality performance by the Queen of Pop.

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