That roof overhead at U.S. Bank Stadium might not make for optimal acoustics, but it does allow Minneapolis's shiny new football venue the opportunity to book concerts beyond summer – like the Oct. 20, 2018, date that Ed Sheeran just announced as part of his first major U.S. stadium tour.
Tickets for Sheeran's big outing go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster exactly one year before the Minneapolis date, Oct. 20, with pre-sale offers starting Oct. 16. As it often does, the promoter Live Nation did not have the courtesy to let fans know how much they'll have to shell out for a seat.
The 26-year-old English singer/songwriter of "The A-Team" and "Love Yourself" fame has continued to rack up widespread radio play and high chart numbers with the singles off last year's album "÷" ("Divide"), including the hopelessly mushy "Shape of You" and the more U2-like anthem "Castle on the Hill." His stadium tour will kick off Aug. 18 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
After easily selling out Xcel Energy Center in July -- and accommodating a few marriage proposals in the crowd -- Sheeran should have no trouble drawing a big crowd to the bigger venue. The question is if he can fill the stadium musically with his one-man-band act, or if he will finally add backing musicians as part of his show. All that beatboxing and percussion looping he does might bounce all over the place in a stadium; especially this stadium.
Sheeran is not along among pop acts announcing a tour a year in advance and holding onto your ticket money in the meantime. Justin Bieber did it with his USBS date that was ultimately cancelled this past August, while two of One Direction's members have already announced their 2018 Twin Cities dates: Harry Styles at Xcel Energy Center on July 1, and Niall Horan at the Minnesota State Fair grandstand on Aug. 23.
