Weather Cancels Sheeran Concerts
Nor’easter Forces Cancellation of Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium Concerts Amid Lineup Controversy
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Key Points
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Before the weather cancellations, fans seeking refunds because of the lineup changes had to submit their requests at least 24 hours before the 8 p.m. showtime.
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The Gillette shows’ start times had been moved from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. after the lineup changed.
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On behalf of ticket holders, Attorney General Andrea Campbell sent Ticketmaster a letter demanding an exception to its policy allowing it to change or cancel opening acts without providing refunds.
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Kraft said he would welcome a meeting with Macklemore to discuss the dispute, and said the decision was not meant to diminish Palestinians’ suffering or deny people the right to advocate for them.
Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, have been canceled due to a nor'easter expected to bring severe weather to New England on September 25 and 26. Messina Touring said the decision was made after consulting local officials to prioritize the safety of fans and staff. Ticket holders can get refunds at their point of purchase, and Ticketmaster purchases will be refunded automatically.
The cancellations come after weeks of controversy over the opening lineup. Stadium owner Robert Kraft removed rapper Macklemore from the tour after his pro-Palestinian comments, citing the venue's policy against hate speech. Other opening acts withdrew in solidarity, and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell had demanded that Ticketmaster offer refunds to unhappy fans.
Macklemore Removed Over Pro-Palestinian Comments
In mid-September, Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft demanded that Macklemore be dropped from the tour after the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments during a MetLife Stadium performance in New Jersey. Kraft said the venue cannot provide a platform for hate speech. Macklemore's removal triggered a wave of withdrawals—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, and Lukas Graham all quit in solidarity with the rapper.
Kraft said the decision was not meant to diminish Palestinian suffering and that he would welcome a meeting with Macklemore to discuss the dispute. Ed Sheeran defended his neutral stance, saying he did not want to be an activist musician and chose to use his fame to maintain diplomacy rather than take political sides.
Attorney General Pressures Ticketmaster Over Refund Policy
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell received nearly 200 complaints about the lineup changes and sent Ticketmaster a letter demanding refunds. Under Ticketmaster's standard policy, artists can swap opening acts without triggering fan refunds. But Campbell said replacing almost all supporting acts was an unfair business practice and threatened legal action if the policy was enforced.
Ticketmaster agreed to allow refunds, but required fans to submit requests at least 24 hours before the 8 p.m. showtime. The Gillette shows' start times had been moved from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. after the lineup collapsed. Now that the concerts are fully canceled due to weather, Ticketmaster is processing automatic refunds for all primary purchasers.
Severe Nor'easter Forces Weather Shutdown
On September 24 in the evening, stage construction at Gillette Stadium halted as a nor'easter approached the region. The storm was forecast to bring 40 to 55 mph wind gusts and 1 to 2 inches of rain to Foxborough. On the morning of September 25, Messina Touring and Gillette Stadium officially announced the cancellation of both concert dates.
Promoter Messina Touring Group said it made the decision following consultation with local officials and state authorities to ensure the safety of fans, staff, and everyone involved in the shows. The full cancellation triggered automatic refunds, overriding the earlier 24-hour advance notice rule that had applied to lineup-change complaints.
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