Foo Fighters announce Huntington Bank Stadium show, then pull it because of COVID protocol concerns

Nov. 30—Tuesday morning, newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Foo Fighters announced an Aug. 3 stop at the former TCF Bank Stadium and, hours later, unannounced the planned show.

"Due to Huntington Bank Stadium's refusal to agree to the band's COVID safety measures, Foo Fighters are unable to perform at that venue," read a statement posted to the band's social media accounts. "We apologize for any inconvenience and are working on finding a suitable replacement — one that will prioritize the health and safety of everyone working and attending the show."

On other stops of the 16-city tour, the band is requiring concertgoers to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.

A spokesman for the stadium issued a statement that said: "The University of Minnesota has prioritized the health and wellness of our community and beyond since the beginning of the pandemic and to state otherwise is misleading ... Our on-campus policies related to vaccines, mask wearing, personal hygiene and other precautions are aligned with state and federal guidance. As a result, our University community is highly vaccinated (exceeding 95 percent) and has consistently experienced low infection rates compared to our campus' surrounding communities. Huntington Bank Stadium has successfully hosted Gopher Football since August while fully complying with state and federal COVID guidance. All who attend events at our public institution, whether football fans, concertgoers or others, are treated equally and encouraged to take steps to protect themselves and others."

The band does have other options for a large local venue, including U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field, assuming they have flexibility on the exact date of the show. Shortly after noon Tuesday, the St. Paul Saints tweeted, "We don't have a home game that day, just saying," seemingly offering up CHS Field as another option

Led by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters have become one of the most successful contemporary rock bands of the era. In October, Paul McCartney inducted the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the band's first year of eligibility. They've played local venues more than a dozen times, and most recently performed a sold-out show at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in October 2018.

During the '10s, the former TCF Bank Stadium hosted a number of memorable outdoor concerts, including U2, the Rolling Stones, Beyonce, One Direction and Luke Bryan. However, since U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016, large-scale concerts have played USBS or Target Field.