With the NFL schedule due out soon, speculation regarding times and dates surfaced. Once the schedule is published, fans will start actively checking it and planning. Meanwhile, the stadiums themselves will also look at the calendar. More importantly, two bitter NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, along with other NFL teams, could see a very different schedule arrangement.
Eagles, Cowboys’ Schedule Will be Impacted by Concerts
While the primary purpose of NFL stadiums is to host league games, these buildings also generate a second stream of revenue: concerts. Some of the biggest acts in modern music draw thousands of fans to stadiums. NFL insider Greg Auman broke down the list of potential scheduling conflicts.
“The 2026 NFL schedule will be out soon, but we can identify a few rare stadium conflicts where venues are already booked for big concerts,” he wrote on X.
“Usher and Chris Brown play AT&T Stadium on Thursday/Saturday/Sunday of Week 1, Cowboys will open the season on the road (or play Monday). Same for Usher and Chris Brown in Atlanta in Week 9, playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, and at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday of Week 10.”
“Bruno Mars plays Tampa on Sunday, Sept. 13, so Bucs will either be on the road in Week 1 or play a different day. Same for Mars with Dolphins in Week 2 and 49ers in Week 5, with Sunday dates in NFL venues.”
“Ed Sheeran plays Saturday night concerts in seven NFL stadiums during the season, meaning those teams will likely be on the road that week or playing Thursday/Monday. His personal NFL schedule:
Week 2: Eagles
Week 3: Patriots
Week 4: Falcons
Week 5: Saints
Week 6: Panthers
Week 7: Cowboys
Week 9: Bucs”
Immediately, the Cowboys appear to be the team that would suffer earliest and most, mostly at the hands, notes, and voice of Usher, Brown, and Sheeran. AT&T Stadium fits 80,000 people for concerts. According to Vivid Seats, the Brown/Usher shows offer tickets starting at $101 for the upper concourse, the top rim of the stadium.
The 2026 NFL schedule will be out soon, but we can identify a few rare stadium conflicts where venues are already booked for big concerts:
— Usher and Chris Brown play AT&T Stadium on Thursday/Saturday/Sunday of Week 1, so Cowboys will open the season on the road (or play…
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) May 7, 2026
In contrast, the most expensive seats are in the Hall of Fame Section 118, which cost an estimated $15,877.65. In essence, the shows make the stadium huge sums of money. While starting their season on the road does not seem ideal, a Monday night home game does. The extra day of planning, scheme implementation, and player rest could benefit the Cowboys.
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Meanwhile, the Eagles could play their second game later or away from Lincoln Financial Field. Both Philadelphia and Dallas look to jump out to a fast start, to erase the thoughts of a disappointing previous year.
Last year, the Eagles started the season 8-2, only to lose five of their last eight games, including a wildcard loss to the San Francisco 49ers. On the other hand, Dallas did not make the playoffs, despite executing a scheme that ranked them No. 6 in the PFSN NFL Offense Impact Rankings. Will the concert conflicts derail the rivals’ hopes of a deep postseason run?
