Thousands of Zac Brown Band fans thought they were leaving Fenway Park with “Chicken Fried,” but instead, they walked away with a huge surprise worth more than $40 million.
Keep reading to learn more.
Anyone who remembers Oprah’s legendary audience giveaways can imagine the reaction inside Boston’s Fenway Park on August 2.
After celebrating another sold-out performance at the iconic ballpark, Zac Brown Band stunned the crowd with an announcement few could have imagined: every person in attendance would receive a free cruise vacation.
‘Chasing the clock’
The celebration came just days after founding member John Driskell Hopkins reflected on continuing to tour with the grammy-winning country group, despite living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), saying he’s been “chasing the clock” and determined to keep performing while he’s still able.
“I’m almost busier now than I was before because I’m trying to get so much done. I’m tryin’ to fit it all in,” Hopkins, 55, told Fox News.
“I’m still on tour with Zac Brown Band right now. You know, my fingers work. My voice works. It’s been compromised, but most of the set, no one would notice. And I’m playing different things on stage, but they still make sense,” said the multi-instrumentalist, who was diagnosed in 2021.
Against that backdrop, the band’s latest stop on its Love & Fear tour turned into one that fans are unlikely to forget.
‘Jimmy ]Buffett] would say this is crazy’
As the show at Fenway drew to a close, frontman Zac Brown stepped onstage with one final surprise.
“Tonight we’re going to do something that even Jimmy [Buffett] would say is crazy,” Brown told the crowd before performing “Same Boat.”
“I’m buying every single person here a cruise for two people on the boat. This is the biggest giveaway in history ladies and gentlemen, right here tonight at Fenway Park!”
More than 37,000 fans attended the Aug. 2 concert, meaning every ticket holder walked away with a cruise for two aboard Margaritaville at Sea, an “unforgettable island-inspired vacation experience” that brings “Margaritaville’s iconic hospitality to the open ocean.”
‘Extraordinary way to thank the fans’
According to the company, the giveaway is valued at more than $40 million and sets a new record as the largest surprise audience gift in live entertainment history. To compare, Oprah’s most iconic car giveaway in 2004 totaled about $7.6 million.
Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea, said that partnering with the band made the moment even more special.
“We were honored to work alongside Zac to help bring this incredible surprise to life for his fans,” said Ivy. “This was an extraordinary way to thank the fans who have supported him throughout his career, and we’re proud to have helped make that incredible vision a once-in-a-lifetime reality.”
The concert also marked another milestone for the band, becoming its 15th consecutive sold-out performance at Fenway Park.
How fans can claim their cruise
According to NBC News, the complimentary trips are valid on select Margaritaville at Sea sailings over the next year.
The giveaway wasn’t just a one-night celebration, either.
Throughout the band’s 27-date Love & Fear U.S. tour, four additional cruises will be given away at every concert aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s new ship, Beachcomber, which is scheduled to launch in January 2027.
The vessel will also feature Same Boat, a live music venue co-designed by Brown and named after his 2021 collaboration with the late Jimmy Buffett. According to Margaritaville at Sea, the venue is intended to recreate the atmosphere of a front-row Zac Brown Band concert while at sea.
‘Went to Fenway for Chicken Fried’
It didn’t take long for social media to light up with reactions as fans tried to process the unexpected giveaway.
“People went to Fenway for Chicken Fried and left with a whole cruise, that’s a proper encore,” one X user joked. Another concert goer, sharing their excitement on Instagram, said, “People just looked at each other confused! They played a song after the announcement and then Zac got back on the mic and said this is for real, not a joke!”
Imagine buying a concert ticket and leaving with a free cruise. How would you react if you were in that crowd? Before passing this story along, please let us know your thoughts in the comment section!
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