Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour is suddenly getting cheaper-and the timing could hardly be more awkward.
The lowest resale price for Sheeran's September 19 concert at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field reportedly fell 24 percent following the announcement that Macklemore had been removed from the tour. According to figures supplied by TicketData, the cheapest available ticket dropped from $126 on Monday to approximately $96.
The decline arrived as Sheeran faced growing criticism over the departure of Macklemore, who had used his opening performances at MetLife Stadium to declare "Free Palestine" and discuss the suffering of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Macklemore's remarks provoked both praise and accusations that he had turned Sheeran's concert into a political platform.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said several venues warned that they would not allow their scheduled concerts to proceed if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Sheeran subsequently stressed that the promoter-not he-made the final decision to remove the rapper. He said he had attempted to find a resolution but was unable to overcome the venues' objections.
The drama did not end with Macklemore. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish group Beoga reportedly withdrew from their scheduled appearances in solidarity, leaving Sheeran without his advertised supporting acts. Some ticket holders then began demanding refunds, arguing that the lineup they had paid to see had been dramatically altered.
Macklemore has since announced that he will donate his $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians. He also challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft-whose company controls Gillette Stadium-to match his contribution. Kraft responded by promising $2 million for humanitarian work in the region, saying Sheeran had privately asked him to make the donation before Macklemore issued his public challenge.
However, those hoping to declare a full-scale boycott may want to pause. Resale prices frequently drop during the final days before a stadium concert as sellers become increasingly desperate to unload unwanted tickets. TicketData tracks listings across resale platforms, so the numbers do not necessarily represent reductions in the tour's official face-value prices.
The chart therefore establishes the timing of the decline but not its cause. The Macklemore controversy, the loss of the supporting lineup, ordinary last-minute pricing and the number of unsold stadium seats could all be contributing factors.
Still, perception matters-and watching tickets slide from $126 to $96 immediately after a bitter political controversy is not the visual Sheeran's team would have wanted. With some seats for upcoming dates reportedly available for less than $60, the Loop Tour is now attracting almost as much attention for its disappearing openers and falling prices as it is for the music.
Fans can view current Philadelphia availability through Ticketmaster or follow the changing resale figures at TicketData.
