Florence + The Machine Forced to Reschedule Second Concert Due to Sports Conflicts

The band's shows in Philadelphia and Boston were impacted by playoff games for the Flyers, Penguins, Celtics, and 76ers.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:56pm

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An abstract, minimalist composition of jagged, overlapping geometric shapes in bold red and black, conceptually representing the clash between a live music performance and a sporting event.Conflicting schedules force Florence + The Machine to reschedule shows, highlighting the challenges of booking concerts around unpredictable sports playoffs.Philadelphia Today

For the second time this week, Florence + the Machine has had to change concert plans due to scheduling conflicts with major sporting events. The band's April 25 show in Philadelphia was originally set for the same night as a Flyers playoff game at the same venue, so it has been moved about 60 miles away to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Earlier, the band had to reschedule a Boston show from Sunday to Monday to avoid conflicting with a Celtics-76ers playoff game.

Why it matters

The scheduling conflicts highlight the challenges artists face when trying to book shows around the unpredictable and last-minute nature of professional sports playoff schedules. With multiple teams sharing the same home arenas, it can be difficult for concert promoters to find open dates that don't clash with games.

The details

The Philadelphia show was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on April 25 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, but it directly conflicted with the Philadelphia Flyers' home playoff game at 8 p.m. the same night at the same venue. The band announced the show will now take place at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Earlier in the week, Florence + The Machine had to reschedule a Boston show from Sunday to Monday to avoid a conflict with Game 1 of the NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.

  • The Flyers and Penguins playoff matchup wasn't confirmed until Monday night, and the full NHL playoff bracket wasn't locked in until early Friday morning.
  • The 76ers only advanced out of the NBA Play-in Tournament on Wednesday, leaving just three days between that game and Game 1 of the NBA's first round.
  • The 76ers play the Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24 and 26, with the Flyers game at the same venue on April 25.

The players

Florence + The Machine

A popular British indie rock band that is currently on tour.

Philadelphia Flyers

A professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia that plays in the NHL.

Boston Celtics

A professional basketball team based in Boston that plays in the NBA.

Philadelphia 76ers

A professional basketball team based in Philadelphia that plays in the NBA.

Xfinity Mobile Arena

A multi-purpose arena in Philadelphia that is shared by the Flyers and 76ers.

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What they’re saying

“We are so sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Unfortunately, this decision is beyond our control, and after exploring many alternative scenarios, this became the only workable solution that would allow us to not cancel the show.”

— Florence + The Machine, Band Statement

What’s next

Fans who had tickets to the original Philadelphia show will automatically receive refunds, and those who want to attend the relocated show in Atlantic City can purchase tickets starting Monday.

The takeaway

The scheduling conflicts faced by Florence + The Machine highlight the challenges artists and concert promoters encounter when trying to book shows around the unpredictable and last-minute nature of professional sports playoff schedules, especially when multiple teams share the same home arenas.