Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Hits Empty Seats as Macklemore Controversy Drags On

Ed Sheeran’s “Loop” tour is struggling to fill seats, with Ticketmaster showing thousands of available tickets for the remaining nine dates — including a contentious September 25 show at Foxborough, Massachusetts. Prices start at $87 for the tour’s November 7 finale at Tampa, while upper-level seats at Foxborough begin at $112.Resale sites are offering even steeper discounts. SeatGeek lists Gillette Stadium tickets from $78, a 30 percent markdown, and seats to the October 10 Indianapolis show for as little as $66. StubHub is currently showing the lowest prices anywhere online, with section 200 seats to this weekend’s Philadelphia concert going for just $65.The soft demand marks a sharp contrast to Mr. Sheeran’s 2025 “Mathematics” tour, which sold out venues across the globe and ranked among the most-attended tours in history.The slump comes amid mounting backlash over the removal of opening act Macklemore, who was dropped from the tour after shouting “Free Palestine!” during a September 5 performance at MetLife Stadium while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” Macklemore later said on Instagram that venues had pushed for his removal at the urging of Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots.Mr. Kraft, who is Jewish, confirmed the decision, pointing to Macklemore’s comments and what he called “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”Frustrated fans have called for refunds following the controversy. “Hey @Ticketmaster so @edsheeran is no longer having @macklemore on his tour. We purchased these tickets when @macklemore was on the setlist and we would like to cancel our tickets for a full refund please and you can sell them to someone else! Thanks :),” one X user wrote.One reddit user wrote, “Ticketmaster is refusing to refund tickets to the show at Gillette after all the advertised supporting acts have dropped out. I am filing a complaint with the Attorney General’s office.”But Ticketmaster’s policy leaves little room for one, stating: “All sales are final. Refunds are only available in limited circumstances, based on policies set by the Event Organizer.” The reddit user pointed out that Ticketmaster has a purchase policy noting that opening acts are “subject to change.” After Macklemore dropped out, every remaining supporting act — Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe — along with his backing band, Beoga, withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.Mr. Sheeran, who has reportedly lost 300,000 Instagram followers since the controversy broke, addressed the fallout in a lengthy post this week. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine,” he wrote, adding that he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge” — including direct talks with Mr. Kraft — but that “the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.” Defending his long-standing avoidance of political statements, Mr. Sheeran wrote, “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. … I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed.”That explanation failed to satisfy his fellow performers. Finneas wrote, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. … I stand with Palestine and its people.” Irish musician Aaron Rowe said he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide,” while Lukas Graham wrote, “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.” Irish band Beoga cited “the silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies” in announcing their exit.

Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Hits Empty Seats as Macklemore Controversy Drags On

Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Hits Empty Seats as Macklemore Controversy Drags On

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