Just under 30 minutes from Union’s Campus sits one of the Capital Regions best entertainment venues: MVP Arena. From concerts, comedy acts, and athletic championships, the arena constantly brings a variety of entertainment opportunities to Albany. Yet many Union students don’t take full advantage of having such a popular venue close to campus. After attending the February 7 performance by A Boogie wit da Hoodie, it’s clear the venue offers an experience that college students shouldn’t miss.
This is the second time A Boogie wit da Hoodie performed at MVP Arena, the first time being in October 2023 with guests Kaliii and Toosii. This year’s show proved once again the Capital Region can attract major artists and deliver an unforgettable concert experience.
Before the show even started, the energy at MVP was radiating. Traffic around the area was heavily backed up, even to the point that people were jumping out of Ubers and walking several blocks instead of waiting for parking. While pre-show congestion may be the aren’s drawback, who can truly name a concert experience where traffic was not backed up for blocks before the show.
By 8 p.m., the venue was already packed. DJs warmed up the crowd as anticipation built for the performers. After a while, the first opener came out, which was artist J.I., the Prince of New York, who performed some of his most popular songs, like “Needed Me.” The performance was entertaining and made me reminisce about my middle school years. The next performer was artist and internet personality Zeddy Will, who performed his most popular songs like “Strut” and “Can’t Go Broke.”
Will jumped into the crowd during his performance and danced with people in the pit; he even went up into the lower stands, which was a really cool experience. It’s nice to see artists genuinely interact with fans. Especially ones you get to see all over social media. My friend, Alex Beilliard ‘28 said, “It was something to see online, but a better experience in person.” The lights, stage setup, and vibrant energy of the arena amplified the experience.
A little after the last opener, the main event came out with one of his most popular songs, “I Still Think About You,” and played his other popular songs like “My Shit,” “Look Back at It,” “DTB,” and more. He even announced that “he changed the set list of Albany because we were so good last time.” He added some of his older songs “that OG fans knew.”
The show was a fantastic experience for both new and old fans. During a brief break, Aboogie stated he couldn’t continue the show until someone in the pit did a backflip, which ended badly when the guy landed on his face. The moment got the crowd laughing and served as a smooth transition into the next song.
From vibrant lighting and impressive stage setup, the night was a testament to what MVP Arena constantly delivers to the Capital Region. It also serves a reminder what incredible experiences Union students may be missing, at a venue essentially in their backyards. Upcoming events include Clover Fest on March 21, 2026 NCAA DI Men’s Ice Hockey Albany Regional in late March, and famous comedian Jim Gaffigan on April 8.
With so much happening only minutes away, it’s time for Union students to start recognizing the opportunities that both the Capital Region and MVP has to offer.
