Ed Sheeran Gillette Stadium concerts at risk

Ed Sheeran’s upcoming concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, could be thrown into uncertainty as organisers race against time to determine whether the shows can go ahead as planned.

The British singer is scheduled to perform at the stadium on Friday and Saturday, but production challenges have raised concerns over whether the outdoor concerts will proceed.

According to TMZ, severe weather conditions in the Northeast disrupted preparations for Sheeran’s stage setup, forcing crew members to temporarily halt construction work on Thursday.

The stage had already been partially assembled when workers were reportedly instructed to pause further installation. Venue executives were said to be considering whether parts of the structure would need to be removed ahead of the expected conditions.

No final decision has been announced on whether the concerts will be cancelled or postponed.

A source at the venue, however, said preparations were largely on track, with most aspects of the stage ready except for lighting, which workers were testing on Thursday evening.

The uncertainty comes after Ed Sheeran’s tour was already caught up in controversy following the removal of rapper Macklemore as an opening act.

Macklemore claimed he was dropped from the tour following pressure linked to his political views and public statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The decision triggered criticism, with some opening acts and musicians withdrawing from some tour dates in support of him.

Sheeran later addressed the controversy during his Philadelphia concert, saying he had never intended to position himself as a political activist but had found himself at the centre of a wider debate.

“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician,” Sheeran said, while acknowledging the complexity of the issue.

Macklemore has since announced a series of “Free Palestine” tour dates, saying proceeds would support organisations providing aid to Palestinians.

Meanwhile, ticket refund concerns have also emerged among some fans following changes to the tour lineup.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said her office intervened after receiving complaints from consumers struggling to obtain refunds. Ticketmaster later confirmed that eligible refund requests for the Gillette Stadium shows would be honoured.