Bruce Springsteen is one of the most iconic and beloved rock musicians of all time. He has been performing for over 50 years and has countless hit songs and albums. Springsteen is known for his marathon 3+ hour concerts filled with high energy and crowd interaction. He has a famously loyal fanbase who will travel near and far to see “The Boss” perform live.
So when Bruce recently had to postpone a concert date on his current tour due to illness, it left many fans wondering if he would reschedule the show and when. Keep reading to find out the details around Bruce’s postponed concert and if a new date has been set.
Original Concert Date and Location
Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band were scheduled to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 23, 2023. This was going to be one of several shows at the famous MSG venue on Springsteen’s 2023 tour.
Madison Square Garden has hosted well over 100 Springsteen concerts over his long career, so this was going to be a special “home turf” show for Bruce. MSG is known by fans as one of Bruce’s favorite places to play given the legendary reputation of the arena and its enthusiastic New York crowds.
Demand for tickets was extremely high as usual for a Springsteen MSG appearance. The show was completely sold out and tickets were going for premium prices on secondary markets. Fans lucky enough to score tickets were eagerly anticipating another memorable marathon “Springsteen at MSG” performance.
Postponement Announcement
Unfortunately on June 17, just a week before the scheduled MSG concert, Bruce Springsteen announced he was postponing the show due to illness. Springsteen released a statement saying doctors had ordered him to rest his voice and skip upcoming shows on doctor’s orders.
The news came as a great disappointment to fans who were excited about the imminent MSG date. However, most expressed understanding about the postponement given health needed to come first. There was immediate curiosity about when and if the show would be rescheduled.
Springsteen and his management team stated they would announce new plans for the postponed NYC date as soon as possible. They expressed regret about having to move the show but gratitude for the patience and support of fans.
Reason for Postponement
So why exactly did The Boss have to abruptly postpone his big NYC concert? According to his spokesperson, Springsteen was diagnosed with vocal cord issues that needed immediate rest to properly heal.
Apparently Springsteen had been struggling on recent tour dates before the postponement announcement. Fans and critics started to notice his voice sounding somewhat strained and hoarse during shows.
There was speculation Bruce might have picked up an illness that was impacting his vocal health. The demands of singing for 3+ hours every night on tour could also have just worn down his voice over time.
Whatever the exact cause, doctors made clear Bruce needed to get off the road for a bit and rest his voice based on medical evaluations. This led to the difficult decision to postpone the NYC show along with a few others.
As disappointing as it was, most fans agreed postponing was clearly the right call to avoid permanent damage to Bruce’s iconic pipes. Preserving his long term voice health was priority #1.
Revised Tour Dates
The day after announcing the MSG postponement, Springsteen’s tour also confirmed several other upcoming tour dates would be pushed back. This included shows in Boston and Chicago that were also scheduled for late June 2023.
Below are the original and newly rescheduled dates for the impacted tour stops:
Original Date | Revised Date | Location |
---|---|---|
June 19, 2023 | TBA | Boston, MA |
June 23, 2023 | TBA | New York City, NY |
June 28, 2023 | TBA | Chicago, IL |
As you can see, makeup dates have not yet been locked in for the three postponed shows. There is a “To Be Announced” (TBA) placeholder for when the concerts will be rescheduled.
Additional shows after Chicago appear to still be on as planned for now. However the tour said they’ll continue monitoring Bruce’s health and make changes as needed. Any further postponements or cancellations will be announced via BruceSpringsteen.net.
Exchange or Refund Options
For fans who already booked travel and accommodations for the original MSG and other postponed concerts, this may come as a headache. Revising travel plans can be costly and complicated.
However, ticketholders for postponed shows do have options if the new dates don’t work for them. Previously purchased tickets can either be exchanged for seats at the new concert date, or fully refunded if preferred.
Details for ticket refunds and exchanges should be available via the original point of purchase. Refunds are typically processed back to the original payment method automatically.
Exchanges may be trickier since seating charts and capacities often change when a major concert gets rescheduled. The tour organizers will do their best to find comparable seats for those seeking exchanges.
Fan Reaction
Not surprisingly, fans expressed a mixed reaction to news that Bruce Springsteen had to postpone his eagerly awaited MSG concert and other tour dates. Many offered words of encouragement and get well wishes after learning Bruce was under doctor’s orders to rest his voice.
They know his grueling concert style demands a lot vocally, so understand he needs to take care of his health first and foremost. As one fan on social media put it: “Take all the time you need Boss! We want you at 100% when you return.”
However, some fans vented disappointment that their travel plans were disrupted heavily by the postponement news coming just 1 week out. A few even debated selling their tickets if new dates end up conflicting with other events.
A minority of fans expressed skepticism about the stated reason for postponement. Some wondered if there were other factors like low ticket sales or behind-the-scenes issues that led to the concerts getting pulled.
But most expressed patience and willingness to wait for new 2021 dates to be announced. After all, Bruce Springsteen has built up decades of goodwill with his loyal fans. They know he wouldn’t postpone shows lightly without good cause.
Prospects for Rescheduling
Assuming Bruce Springsteen’s voice condition improves with rest, it seems very likely the postponed NYC and other shows will be rescheduled. He has a long history of eventually making up any canceled or postponed concerts when reasonably possible.
Making up the shows in major hub cities like New York, Boston and Chicago is especially important for Bruce to do. These are big profitable markets that are cornerstones of any major tour.
The key variables will be identifying open dates at the original arenas that work for Springsteen’s team. Madison Square Garden in particular remains extremely busy, so securing 4-5 open days in a row there could be the biggest challenge.
However, given Bruce’s superstar status in the industry, expect these venues to do whatever they can to accommodate rescheduling. Bruce has said he aims to tour as actively as possible all the way through 2023 at least.
So barring any extended health setbacks, fans can be optimistic that postponed dates will be made up before the year is over.
Potential New Dates for MSG Show
While no official new date has been set yet for the postponed MSG concert, looking at the venue’s calendar offers clues.
There are open stretches in late November and mid December 2023 that could feasibly fit a Springsteen make up show. The first two weeks of December especially look like a plausible MSG window.
Of course this is just speculation until confirmed by Springsteen’s camp. But given MSG’s limited availability, those two windows make sense as potential rescheduling targets.
Will Future Dates Be Impacted?
Another looming question is whether Bruce Springsteen will need to postpone more shows beyond the ones already announced. So far it seems the concerts still on schedule will go forward as planned.
But fans remain nervous about the possibility of additional postponements. If Bruce’s voice doesn’t bounce back quickly, his team may ultimately determine more rest is required.
On the bright side, the earlier tour dates postponed so far were crammed tightly together. Bruce was originally slated for back-to-back shows from June 19-28, including 5 concerts over just 8 days.
The revised schedule seems likely to allow more spacing and off days between shows. This should reduce vocal strain compared to the original grueling calendar.
Still, the tour has vowed to keep fans updated on any developments or changes. Let’s hope no further postponements emerge and Bruce is good to go after a brief rest period.
What if Shows Are Outright Canceled?
Right now the postponed concerts are expected to be rescheduled, not canceled. However, there is a small chance logistics could make rescheduling impossible and force complete cancelation.
If shows end up canceled outright, refunds would automatically be processed for ticketholders. No action would be required to get money back in that worst case scenario.
Again, outright cancellations appear highly unlikely at this point. Rescheduling into 2023 seems the probable outcome if Bruce recuperates as expected.
Could Bruce’s Voice Issues Impact His Career Going Forward?
Bruce Springsteen just turned 73 years old, so some degree of age-related decline in his vocal abilities is inevitable. This recent voice strain could be an early sign of his pipes losing some of their legendary endurance and power.
It’s definitely concerning for fans to hear Bruce is struggling vocally after just a few shows into the latest tour. Does this mean he can’t handle as many consecutive dates without rest as in his prime years?
If these vocal issues linger, it could force changes to Bruce’s prolific touring approach going forward. He might need to schedule shorter tours with more built-in off days. Or add more supporting act slots to give himself half-sets on some nights.
Hopefully with proper rest and care, this proves a temporary blip that won’t impact Bruce’s future touring plans extensively. But his voice troubles are likely a disconcerting reality check on his advancing age and the toll from decades of marathon shows.
Advice for Fans Planning to Attend Rescheduled Shows
For fans able to catch the rescheduled NYC and other postponed shows later in 2023, how should they prepare? Here are some tips:
– Monitor BruceSpringsteen.net for any updates on new dates or potential cancelations. Make any needed adjustments to travel plans as soon as possible.
– Understand the new concert dates may not work well with your schedule. Review ticket refund or exchange options in case a sell/swap makes sense. Don’t feel obligated to attend replacement shows.
– Book refundable travel and accommodations in case of any additional postponements. Hold off on non-changeable plans until new dates are confirmed.
– Check back on venue sites for tailgating policies, start times, parking information and other show day logistics. Details may evolve with a new date.
– Stay flexible! With an iconic veteran performer like Bruce, it’s possible shows could continue shifting as health circumstances dictate.
Conclusion
Like any beloved rock legend in his 70s, Bruce Springsteen needs to exercise caution when it comes to his health and voice care. While the postponed NYC and other shows are a letdown, fans want The Boss healthy first and foremost.
Here’s hoping Bruce’s voice gets the necessary rest in coming weeks, allowing his summer tour to resume on a lighter schedule. His management has promised to announce any status changes when they can.
Despite his advancing age, the passion and energy Bruce pours into his marathon concerts remains unmatched. True fans understand any bumps in the road required to preserve that magic.
As long as Bruce recuperates fully, his postponed 2023 dates should get rescheduled once logistics get sorted out. And his legions of loyal supporters look forward to gathering in cities worldwide to watch him grace the stage again.