Eric Church draws flak for cancelling Arena Show to Attend NCAA Game

Eric Church, country superstar, may be experiencing a regional shift in his popularity this week. His popularity in North Carolina? Probably on the rise, with the news that he’d do anything to cheer on his beloved Tar Heels in an NCAA basketball tournament game this Saturday. Church’s stock in Texas could be taking at least a momentary dip, though, after he announced Tuesday that he was canceling a sold-out show at AT&T Center in San Antonio, scheduled for that same date, to attend the game.

Church, who is generally regarded as one the most straightforward people in country, stated a reason why he cancelled the concert on April 2. In a statement to ticketholders — sent out by Ticketmaster, accompanied by an automatic refund notice — he admitted that calling off the gig four days before showtime was “the most selfish thing”He has done with regard to his relationship and fan base.

Church’s message to fans read: “This Saturday, my family and I are going to stand together to cheer on the Tar Heels as the team has made it to the Final Four. As a lifelong Carolina basketball fan, I’ve watched Carolina and Duke battle over the year but to have them matchup in the Final Four for the first time in history of the NCAA Tournament is any sports enthusiast’s dream.”

He continued, “This is also the most selfish thing I’ve ever asked the Choir to do: to give up your Saturday night plans with us so that I can have this moment with my family and sports community. However, it’s that same type of passion felt by the people who fill the seats at our concerts that makes us want to be part of a crowd at a game of this significance. Woody Durham always said, ‘Go where you go and do what you do.’ [T]hanks for letting me go here and be with the Tar Heels.”

Artists aren’t required to publicly declare why they nix concerts, and many quietly cancel shows or entire tours due to low sales… or bow out for murkier reasons, as with the most infamous indefinite postponement of 2022, Adele’s Las Vegas run. (“It’s arguably more sincere than ‘my show ain’t ready’ 24 hours before the doors open,”(One concert observer was the one who snarked. But there isn’t much precedent for a major artist doing a no-show to attend a sporting event, even if his fellow UNC fans might think calling this a sporting event is akin to calling the Second Coming a religious service.

A rep for Church said the reaction to the cancellation on the artist’s “Church Choir” Facebook fan page — which is locked to outsiders — is “overwhelmingly positive”… as opposed to the wider twittersphere, where Church looked to mostly be taking a hammering for his decision, as of Tuesday night.

Some country fans said it was impossible to judge Church if you aren’t also from North Carolina. “The response to @ericchurch canceling his show in Texas to go to the Final Four game is fair,”Casey Young tweeted the tweet, who is also a writer at Whiskey Riff and hails from NC. “I’d be upset if I’d made plans to be there…*but* I don’t think you can really understand the significance of the game unless you’re from NC or are completely diehard for any given team… I’m torn because I truly see both sides and if I had a chance to be at that game, I’d have my ass there no matter what. But I feel for all the thousands of people who were canceled on after booking flights, finding childcare, etc. just to be able to go to the show.”

Coby DuBose, a Houston defense lawyer, didn’t have much sympathy with Church for not foreseeing the possibility of the matchup, however historic: “If you’re obsessed with basketball, don’t schedule a concert during the Final Four.”

Many wondered why Church suddenly cancelled the show, rather than simply postponing it to another date during basketball season or after his current schedule ends in August. The artist’s spokesperson said the singer “could not commit to a reschedule date at this time”he didn’t want to let ticketholders hold the bag.

Wrote Kyle ”Trigger” Coroneos, editor of the Country Music Saved website, “The situation takes a significant step in a perilous direction where privileged entertainers can cancel events on a whim to serve their own purposes as opposed to making hard-working fans who’ve paid good money to see their favorite artists perform their priority. Eric Church and other huge music stars are offered opportunities that most music fans would only dream of. To fulfill their performing obligations, they must pay a small price for things like basketball games. … In 2020, Eric Church was named the CMA Entertainer of the Year in large part due to the type of precedent he set as a live performer. Hopefully, he’s not setting an example his peers will follow with this move. “

Even on Twitter, though, where much of the immediate response was brutal, some defended the idea of a hard-working entertainer being allowed to grant himself a time-out in the middle of a tour’s worth of two-and-a-half-hour shows. “Honestly, good for him,” wrote Marissa Gomez. “I cant even imagine having almost every weekend of the year planned out a year or two in advance. Eric Church, enjoy the game!”

I’m a big sports fan. I’m also a responsible professional. It’s a gutsy decision to impact thousands of people and their hard-earned $ in this economy by selfishly (your words). @ericchurchI hope that this was a calculated chance. #lostafan #poorchoice #GoDuke

— Toby Cummings (@toby_cummings) March 30, 2022

He is doing a great job. I cannot imagine planning a single weekend in advance for almost any given week. @ericchurchEnjoy the game! https://t.co/KM1IlroXwi

— Marissa Gomez (@marissagomez) March 29, 2022

Eric Church music, tickets, or any other item will never be the same again. My wife’s birthday, first concert since before COVID and #ericchurchSan Antonio is given the green light to play in a basketball tournament. #ericchurchYou are dead to my.

— I Jessop (@Twitwitt) March 29, 2022

We had hoped to be able to see. @ericchurchFor years. Finally, he is in San Antonio. He cancelled (not postponed), his show to watch the NCAA match between UNC and Duke. He claimed it was selfish, and he is correct. They will be crushed by Duke, I’m sure.

— Katie K (@cloverkatiek) March 29, 2022

I’m torn because I truly see both sides and if I had a chance to be at that game, I’d have my ass there no matter what. I am sorry for the thousands of people who had to cancel their flights and find childcare. To be able go to the show, it is a privilege.

— ☆☆Casey Young☆☆ (@spaseycasey) March 30, 2022

We’ve gotten to the point where a major artist can cancel a concert to go to the #FinalFour and people’s response is, “well, at least he was honest.”Are we expecting too much from people? 🤦🏼‍♀️ #EricChurch

— Ashley Ryan 🎧🎙🥂 (@AshleyLolaRyan) March 30, 2022

So, @ericchurchMy guy, topped only #KingGeorge. Church’s dedication to his fans has been legendary. It is therefore shocking that Church cancelled a show to see a Basketball game. This legendary commitment will protect him from any backlash. However, it is not a good look. #Chief.

— Jamie (@collinsjamiea) March 30, 2022

Sometimes people forget that their favorite artists can also be people. Eric Church made the right decision to cancel his show in order to make a dream come true. That’s a great decision.

— Tanya Devito (@ijustwantadino) March 30, 2022