Nick Jonas draws crowd at SHI stadium despite heatwave

Despite the heatwave last Thursday, the Revolution New Jersey “Rev White and Blue” event commemorating New Jersey and the United States’ 250th Independence Day, headlined by Nick Jonas, garnered a fairly sized crowd, filling the pit and most of the remaining floor by the time Jonas took the stage.

Before the event, “The Boardwalk” – similar to the traditional pregame football festivities – featured games, food trucks and stalls, companies and organizations tabling, and cooling centers throughout the walk to SHI stadium in the form of Rutgers buses with AC – including new buses for the fleet following the start of Academy’s contract for Rutgers campus buses.

Inside the stadium, spectators could sit in the stands or go to the floor with their free admission, and purchase beverages and food as they waited for the show to begin in the heat, where the high on the day was a sweltering 102, while the low by end of the concert was around 78.

The show inside the stadium started 7 p.m. after videos of New Jersey celebrities and athletes, appearances in movies, historical inventions and events from the state and more played. Lieutenant Governor Caldwell and Rutgers Athletics Director Keli Zinn spoke to kick off the event, and Tony award winner Ali Stroker took the stage to start the musical performances.

Afterward, Naughty by Nature did a special set commemorating the 250th birthday of New Jersey, before welcoming Mikie Sherrill, who was gifted a rug by the band with her face on it. After her speech thanking Naughty by Nature, who played at her inaugural ball, she kicked the stage to Nick Jonas.

Jonas delivered a performance both for his dedicated fans who knew his discography and for those who came to Rev, White, and Blue looking for a family-fun Independence Day event. Starting with songs that fans would know, Jonas ended the show with three “last songs” that have topped the charts, and the whole crowd could enjoy.

The night ended with a fireworks show from the student side of the stadium, as attendees ended the night of fun, the show continued as the hot day of fun leaving the parking lot with a sky lit up by the explosions.