Legendary rock singer Bruce Springsteen has canceled his highly anticipated concert just hours before he was scheduled to perform at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 73-year-old musician, known for hits like “Born In the U.S.A.” and “Dancing In the Dark,” announced via his X account to his 1.3 million followers that he had “taken ill,” leading to the postponement of the August 16 show as well as another one scheduled for Friday. Both concerts were part of the “Springsteen & E Street Band 2023 Tour.”
In his announcement, Springsteen expressed his regret over the situation, stating, “Due to Bruce Springsteen having been taken ill, his concerts with The E Street Band at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on August 16 and 18 have been postponed.” He assured fans that efforts were being made to reschedule the dates and urged them to retain their tickets, as they would remain valid for the rescheduled performances.
Due to Bruce Springsteen having been taken ill, his concerts with The E Street Band at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on August 16 and 18 have been postponed.
We are working on rescheduling the dates so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled…
— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) August 16, 2023
Despite the notification, Springsteen’s social media accounts and official channels provided no additional details regarding the nature of his illness or the potential rescheduled dates for the postponed shows. The announcement was made around 2 p.m., a mere five hours before the show was set to begin at 7:30 p.m. This short notice prompted fans who had already made arrangements to express their disappointment on social media platforms.
One devoted fan, who had traveled all the way from Sweden, shared their frustration, stating, “Flew all the way from Sweden to see this concert.” Another empathetic attendee remarked, “Sorry to hear about Bruce being ill, that sux!” However, the sudden cancellation raised logistical concerns for those who had already made substantial investments, with one ticket holder from London inquiring, “But when and how are refund details going to be available? I am in town from London (UK) and have 6 tix to Friday’s Bruce show, how do I get my $2K+ back?”
Springsteen’s official website currently lists his next scheduled tour date as August 24, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The “Springsteen & E Street Band 2023 Tour” began in February in Florida. The tour had faced a setback earlier in March when the singer postponed several shows due to a different illness. Concerts in Albany, New York; Columbus, Ohio; and Uncasville, Connecticut, were similarly postponed, with limited information provided regarding the specific health issue.
The tour is expected to continue through December, culminating in San Francisco, after making several stops across Canada, Arizona, and various locations in California.
