The singer's touring promoter, Messina Touring Group, announced on Friday, Sept. 25, that Sheeran's scheduled performances at the Foxborough venue on Friday and Saturday would no longer take place because of an approaching nor'easter.
The promoter said the decision followed severe weather warnings across Boston and New England and consultations with local officials. The safety of concertgoers, employees and everyone involved with the shows was cited as the main reason for canceling the performances.
Fans who purchased tickets have been told that refunds are available through their original point of purchase. Those who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will receive their money back automatically.
The storm has also disrupted other major events across the region. The All Things Go and Global Citizen festivals planned for the weekend in New York City were canceled on Friday as the storm remained offshore.
According to The New York Times, the nor'easter is expected to bring heavy rainfall, powerful winds and coastal flooding as it moves along the East Coast through Sunday.
The canceled concerts come shortly after Sheeran's Loop Tour was hit by controversy involving several support acts. Macklemore, Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Sheeran's backing group Beoga all withdrew from the tour following disagreements surrounding statements supporting Palestinians.
Sheeran previously said the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by the promoter rather than him. The venues reportedly involved included Gillette Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and several others across the United States.
Macklemore later claimed that Sheeran told him New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had opposed his appearance at Gillette Stadium and had spoken with other stadium owners about the issue. Kraft later addressed the controversy publicly, saying he had spent much of his life working to bring people together.
Sheeran also spoke about the situation during a performance in Philadelphia on Sept. 19. He said the controversy had placed him in the middle of a wider debate about free speech and the conflict in the Middle East.
The singer said he had been listening to different perspectives and acknowledged that he did not have all the answers. He also described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as devastating and said he was exploring ways to support people affected by the conflict.
For now, Sheeran's two Foxborough performances will not go ahead, with fans advised to follow the ticketing process for their refunds.
