Sellout crowds for Rappers Eminem, Jay-Z

DETROIT, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Rappers Eminem and Jay-Z will perform together in two concerts in Detroit and two at Yankee Stadium in what promoters say are landmark events.

All four of the shows are sold out and it will take more than 50 semi-trucks to move concert sets, lighting, audio and video equipment from Detroit to New York City, the Detroit Free Press said Sunday.

The Detroit concerts will be held on Sept. 2 and 3; the New York events will occur on Sept. 13 and 14.

"We probably could have done four dates (at Comerica Park), but the schedule just didn't work out," said Dana Warg, president of Olympia Entertainment, which operates Comerica Park in Detroit. "The way we announced it nationally on ESPN and Fox, with the artists in town, certainly helped the exposure. We have them coming from all around for this show, and I think it will have a huge economic impact in Detroit."

A crew of about 300 will spend six days building the stage, lighting and audio structures for the Detroit shows, and about 40,000 fans will attend each concert, the newspaper said.

"We've done things together," the Detroit rapper told interviewers when announcing his upcoming shows with Jay-Z. "But I'm not sure we've ever done anything this big."

It's expected that Eminem will follow Jay-Z for the Detroit shows, with the rapper trading places for the New York concerts, the report said.