Ed Sheeran’s Detroit stop on his LOOP Tour ended with a serious incident behind the scenes after six workers were injured during the post-concert stage load-out at Ford Field late Saturday night. The accident happened hours after thousands of fans had left the stadium following Sheeran’s Aug. 29 performance.
All six workers were taken to nearby hospitals. Two were reported to be in serious condition at the time of transport, while four were listed as stable. Officials said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, but the number of people hurt triggered a major emergency response and an ongoing investigation into exactly what went wrong.
More Onstage Mishaps: Ford Field isn’t the only venue dealing with a scary moment tied to a big tour stop lately, one country star recently took a hard fall of his own in front of a packed crowd. For more, read our story on Tim McGraw Shows Up 40 Minutes Late, Then Takes a Hard Fall on Stage in Cincinnati: “There’s a Hole There”.
Ford Field Post-Show Accident Happened During Ed Sheeran Stage Teardown
The Detroit Fire Department responded to Ford Field shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday following reports of an accident involving multiple people. Fire department dispatch audio described the incident as a “forklift injury accident.”
The accident occurred during the complex post-show process of dismantling the concert production after Ed Sheeran’s final Detroit performance on his LOOP Tour. According to workers who spoke with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit, several employees were walking toward another area of the stadium to take a break when the incident unfolded near a ramp in the vehicle tunnel.
Workers said equipment being used during the stage teardown lost control and struck several people.
However, the exact circumstances remain under investigation. While worker accounts and early reports have described the equipment as a forklift or other stage-load-out equipment, officials have not publicly confirmed the precise piece of equipment involved or explained exactly how it lost control.
One worker who was struck in the chest told WDIV that he had never experienced anything like it and said the incident happened in a split second. He was hospitalized overnight and released Sunday.
Because multiple people were injured, the Detroit Fire Department provided triage assistance at the scene before all six workers were transported to area hospitals for treatment.
| Time / Detail | Confirmed Information |
| Date | Saturday, Aug. 29 |
| Location | Ford Field, Detroit |
| Time of emergency response | Shortly after 11 p.m. |
| Event | Post-concert stage load-out |
| Workers injured | Six |
| Serious condition | Two at time of transport |
| Stable condition | Four at time of transport |
| Fatalities reported | None |
| Investigation status | Ongoing |
More Tour Tributes: Big stadium tours bring their own emotional moments too, including one country legend’s recent solo performance that turned into an unexpected farewell. For more, check out our post on Brad Paisley Gets Emotional Performing Dolly Parton Duet Alone After Her Death: “I Never Thought It Would Be About Her”.
Six Workers Injured at Ford Field, Including One Stadium Employee
The six people injured were workers involved with the event, and Ford Field confirmed that one of those hospitalized was a member of its own team.
At the time they were transported, two patients were listed in serious condition while four were stable. The Detroit Fire Department said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
There were no reported fatalities, but the scale of the incident required an emergency response involving Detroit firefighters and EMS personnel.
Ford Field has not assigned responsibility for the accident and has urged against speculation while the review continues. In a statement, the stadium said:
“Ford Field has begun a full review and is cooperating with the appropriate authorities and with the event’s production partners. Out of respect for the people involved and the integrity of that review, we will not speculate on the cause. We are grateful to the Detroit Fire Department and EMS for their rapid response.”
The stadium has not publicly released further information regarding the workers’ individual injuries or their current medical conditions.
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Ed Sheeran’s Detroit Concert Was Not Reported as the Cause of the Accident
The incident happened after Sheeran’s Aug. 29 performance at Ford Field and was connected to the removal and dismantling of concert equipment rather than the performance itself.
The Detroit show was Sheeran’s final scheduled Detroit appearance on this leg of the LOOP Tour. His official tour schedule lists Ford Field on Aug. 29, followed by two shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 4 and 5.
The concert itself was not reported to have been disrupted.
During the show, Sheeran also spoke warmly about Detroit. According to The Detroit News, he told the audience:
“I love this city, I love the state, I love the people here,”
while also expressing hope that the Detroit Lions would win the Super Bowl.
The night had been another major stadium stop on Sheeran’s ongoing tour, but attention quickly shifted after the show to the workers injured while the massive production was being taken apart.
More Backlash Coverage: Public accountability and formal reviews are playing out in other corners of entertainment too, including a major museum’s own reckoning with backlash over a canceled exhibition. To learn more, read our feature on John Galliano’s 2027 Met Gala Exhibition Canceled After Backlash Over His Past Remarks.
What Caused the Ford Field Load-Out Incident Remains Unknown
Despite multiple reports confirming that six workers were injured, some of the most important questions surrounding the Ford Field accident remain unanswered.
Authorities have not released a definitive explanation for why the equipment lost control. The exact equipment involved has also not been officially confirmed, despite worker accounts and reports describing a forklift or heavy stage-load-out equipment.
It also remains unclear whether the investigation will result in any citations, violations, or other findings.
For now, the confirmed facts are clear: six workers were injured during the post-concert load-out, all six were transported to hospitals, two were in serious condition and four were stable at the time of transport, and officials said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
Ford Field’s ongoing review, along with the involvement of the appropriate authorities and the event’s production partners, is expected to determine how the accident happened. Until then, the focus remains on the recovery of the workers injured in an incident that unfolded only hours after the stadium had been packed with concertgoers.
Disclaimer
This story is based on thorough research from the following sources: WDIV ClickOnDetroit, FOX 2 Detroit, CBS Detroit, and Ed Sheeran’s official tour information. The investigation into the Ford Field incident remains ongoing, and details concerning the equipment involved and the exact cause of the accident remain unconfirmed unless officially established by authorities or Ford Field.
Sources
- WDIV ClickOnDetroit — Six workers injured at Ford Field
- FOX 2 Detroit — Six workers injured in accident at Ford Field
- CBS Detroit — Six adults hospitalized after Ford Field incident
- Ed Sheeran Official Tour Dates
Featured Image Credit: Drew de F Fawkes & Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
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