Ed Sheeran Concert At Raymond James Expected To Attract 70,000 Fans

TAMPA, FL — A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected to begin arriving at Raymond James Stadium Saturday afternoon for the Ed Sheeran concert.

Drivers and pedestrians alike are advised to allow extra travel time and to travel through the area with caution beginning late Saturday afternoon. Those not attending the concert are encouraged to travel on alternate routes.

The Tampa Sports Authority anticipates heavy traffic on the main roads around the stadium: Dale Mabry Highway, Himes Avenue, Columbus Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard.

Also, Tom McEwen Boulevard (Tampa Bay Boulevard)will be closed between Dale Mabry and Himes Avenue beginning at noon on May 20.

For those attending the concert, the authority encourages attendees to obtain prepaid parking due to limited space. Prepaid parking is available here.

Parking lots open at 2 p.m. All gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 6 p.m.

It's been a quick rise for soulful British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. He played his first club gig in New York City in early 2012, and by the summer of 2013, tickets for his first headlining concert at New York's Madison Garden sold out in just three minutes.

Sheeran's take on acoustic-based folk is updated with hip hop-influenced hooks and beats. His song "The A Team" was nominated for a "Song of the Year" Grammy, and his debut album, "+," hit No. 5 on the U.S. album chart.

Sheeran, who's also written songs for Taylor Swift and One Direction, played for hundreds of thousands of American fans in 2013 as the opening act on Swift's RED Tour. Sheeran's second album (2014) features famed producer Rick Rubin behind the board. To date, Ed Sheeran has performed over 800 shows across 3 concert tours.

Tickets are still available. Click here.