Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Ed Sheeran Tour Faces Ticket Slump After Macklemore Exit
Ed Sheeran is taking his Loop Tour to several stadiums.
Some tickets being resold online have become cheaper.
This happened while people argued about rapper Macklemore leaving the tour.
Macklemore had spoken in support of Palestinians during concerts.
Robert Kraft said his stadium would not host Macklemore because of what he called hate speech.
Sheeran said the promoter, not him, made the decision.
Some celebrities criticized Sheeran for the situation.
Sheeran’s band and three opening acts then left the tour.
Resale prices fell for nine of Ed Sheeran’s next 10 Loop Tour dates, according to Ticketdata.
Philadelphia tickets dropped 17% over three days and 25% over seven days, the article reported.
Macklemore was removed after voicing support for Palestinians during concerts at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
Robert Kraft said Gillette Stadium would not provide a platform for what he described as hate speech.
Sheeran said the promoter made the decision, while his band and three opening acts later withdrew from the tour.
- Who
- Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Robert Kraft, several celebrities, and members of Sheeran’s touring group are involved.
- What
- Resale ticket prices declined for most of Sheeran’s upcoming Loop Tour dates amid controversy over Macklemore’s removal and subsequent withdrawals.
- When
- The price changes were reported over the previous three and seven days; the controversy intensified on Tuesday after earlier concerts this month.
- Where
- The affected dates include Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Atlanta, Charlotte, Arlington, Hollywood, Tampa, and Indianapolis; Macklemore spoke at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- Why
- The article links the ticket-price changes to criticism surrounding Macklemore’s removal after his pro-Palestine comments, though it does not establish that the controversy caused the price declines.
Tour organizers and venues
Macklemore and critics
Reason for Macklemore’s removal
Tour organizers and venues
Robert Kraft said Gillette Stadium would not provide a platform for what he called hate speech. Sheeran said the promoter made the decision after threats from stadium venues and said it was not his choice.
Macklemore and critics
Macklemore alleged that Kraft rallied other stadium owners to oppose his participation after his pro-Palestine remarks.
Sheeran’s responsibility
Tour organizers and venues
Sheeran said he was not responsible for removing Macklemore and said he was appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Macklemore and critics
Hannah Einbinder and Marissa Bode criticized Sheeran publicly, treating him as responsible for or complicit in the tour’s handling of Macklemore.
Effect on the tour
Tour organizers and venues
The tour continues to have upcoming dates, with Indianapolis recording a positive three-day resale-price change.
Macklemore and critics
Resale prices declined for nine of the next 10 dates, and Sheeran’s band and three opening acts withdrew amid the continuing fallout.
- Affected dates
- Resale prices declined for nine of Sheeran’s next 10 dates.
- Philadelphia change
- Prices fell 17% over three days and 25% over seven days.
- Only positive market
- Indianapolis was the only one of the 10 dates with a positive three-day price change.
- Macklemore’s comments
- He said “Free Palestine” and said people in Gaza should know they had not been forgotten.
- Venue decision
- Robert Kraft said Gillette Stadium blocked Macklemore from performing because it does not provide a platform for hate speech.
- Sheeran’s position
- Sheeran said the tour promoter made the removal decision after threats from stadium venues, not him.
- Tour withdrawals
- Sheeran’s band and three opening acts pulled out of the tour on Tuesday.