Ed Sheeran Concert Time Changed As Ticket Prices Plunge, Protests Planned - Newsweek

Ed Sheeran’s Philadelphia concert will begin later than originally scheduled on Saturday, while organizers of planned pro-Palestinian protests outside the stadium say their demonstration will go ahead at its original time.

The concert at Lincoln Financial Field is now scheduled for 8 p.m., moved back from the previously advertised 5:30 p.m. start after the remaining opening acts withdrew from Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour.

Stadium parking lots are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. and doors at 6 p.m., according to event information reported by FOX 29 Philadelphia.

SEPTA said it would run additional Broad Street Line express trains and deploy transit police, station attendants and other personnel at NRG Station as the city prepares for both the rally and the concert.

Local station 6abc also reported that the show would proceed without support acts.

Sheeran's tour lineup began unraveling after U.S. rapper Macklemore used an opening set at MetLife Stadium on September 4 to express support for Palestinians and lead the crowd in chants of “Free Palestine.”

The fallout widened after Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates. Every other support act then pulled out in solidarity with the rapper, leaving Sheeran without Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham or Beoga for their scheduled appearances.

Macklemore said Sheeran told him that Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, opposed his scheduled appearances and that other venue owners had taken a similar position.

Sheeran said forthcoming venues told the tour that their shows would not proceed with Macklemore on the bill, and that Messina Touring Group ultimately removed him under the promoter’s contract.

Sheeran said he tried to broker a solution but maintained that the final decision belonged to the promoter and venues rather than him.

He added: "I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine, I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict."

The departures left the Philadelphia concert without its advertised support bill. Nicole Tedesco of Pittston told 6abc she feels "disappointed" adding that she wanted the "whole experience."

Pro-Palestinian protest group Shutdown DZ Philly has called supporters to gather outside the Lincoln Financial Field stadium at 4:30 p.m., three and a half hours before the revised concert time.

In an Instagram update, the organizers said they were aware of the change but “will not be changing the start time of our rally,” adding that their focus was drawing attention to Gaza.

Philadelphia police told 6abc that staffing would be adjusted amid the planned demonstration.

Some fans told the station that concerns surrounding the protest, the altered lineup and refunds had affected their plans to attend.

Caitlin Smith, of Hatboro, had planned to attend the concert with her husband. Both use power wheelchairs. However, despite Philadelphia police saying they would work to maintain safety, Smith has decided to stay home.

"The Ed Sheeran song 'Perfect' was our wedding song," Smith said. "My ultimate dream would have been for us both to meet him, but going to this concert was essentially the next best thing. Because of everything being so unsure, it kinda sucks."

"With us both being in chairs trying to get into the city, we don't want to take that risk," she added.

No blanket refund policy for the Philadelphia concert had been publicly announced by Ticketmaster, Lincoln Financial Field or the tour organizer by Saturday morning.

Smith told 6abc that she had been unable to secure a refund from StubHub, although the station reported that some customers had received refunds through Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster said the event organizer, Messina Touring Group, controlled the refund policy.

Newsweek reached out to Messina Touring Group and the Lincoln Financial Field via a website contact form and email, respectively, for comment on Saturday morning and is awaiting a response.

Resale prices have fallen further. StubHub listings viewed Saturday showed tickets from $53 including fees, with TicketData showing resale prices at $56. Prices and availability can change rapidly.

That is below the $75 get-in price recorded at midday Friday, when prices for the Philadelphia show had already fallen 45 percent over the previous week.

Keith Pagello, founder of TicketData, cautioned that prices often soften as concerts approach, but said the Philadelphia decline was pushing beyond the tour’s typical pattern.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.