Zach Bryan Smashes Gillette Stadium Record, Rekindles Controversy with 'Free Palestine' Shirt
Zach Bryan set a new attendance record at Gillette Stadium during his "With Heaven on Tour" concerts, drawing over 73,000 fans. The country star also made a political statement by wearing a "Free Palestine" shirt, drawing comparisons to Macklemore's recent tour removal for similar remarks.
Country music star Zach Bryan made headlines by setting a new attendance record at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
On Saturday, October 3, Bryan drew an unprecedented 73,538 fans to the venue during the second of his back-to-back shows for his “With Heaven on Tour.”
This remarkable turnout significantly surpassed Gillette Stadium's listed capacity of 64,628, showcasing the variable seating configurations possible for large-scale events.
Beyond his record-breaking performance, Bryan's concerts at the Kraft Group-owned venue garnered additional attention due to a political statement.
On both Friday, and Saturday, Bryan was seen wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with “Free Palestine.”
His members of his band were also observed wearing identical shirts, as reported by TMZ. Bryan, however, did not verbally address the shirts during either of his performances.
This public display of support for Palestine by Bryan comes just weeks after a similar incident involving rapper Macklemore.
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following pro-Palestinian remarks he made during his September 4 and 5 concerts at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
HIs removal was prompted by calls from groups like the Israeli-American Council, and tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that multiple venues had indicated they would not permit Macklemore to perform.
The owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, Robert Kraft, publicly addressed the broader controversy, expressing a sense of responsibility to speak out against antisemitism when he believed a line was crossed, while also acknowledging the reality of Palestinian suffering.
Interestingly, Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour was originally slated to perform at Gillette Stadium on September 25 and 26, but those shows were ultimately canceled due to severe weather conditions.
This isn't Zach Bryan’s first venture into political commentary, but also on October 2025, a teaser for his song “Bad News,” which contained references to ICE raids, drew criticism from both the Department of Homeland Security and the White House.
Bryan responded by stating that the song aimed to resonate with individuals across the political spectrum and urged his fans to resist the divisive influence of social media.
The song was later featured on his album “With Heaven on Top,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in January.