It’s the big day for Canada’s “Swifties”, as Taylor Swift arrives in Toronto on Thursday for the first of her series of six concerts in the Queen City.
Canadian admirers of the American megastar have been waiting for this day for more than a year, since it was announced, in August 2023, that the “Eras” tour would make its first stops in Canada.
More than 50,000 people are expected to take their seats at the Rogers Center for each of the six concerts.
But even six performances in a baseball stadium are nowhere near enough to meet demand. Thus, many Swift admirers will travel to Toronto even if they do not have a ticket, in the hope of obtaining one at the last minute or to fall back on one of the many events which will take place in parallel.
Among these events, note the “Taylgate 24, Toronto version”, which is presented as the ideal gathering place for people who have not managed to get their hands on the coveted tickets.
A waiting area for parents whose children will be at the concerts and an indoor area where ticket holders can relax before the show are also part of the program.
All the craziness surrounding Swift’s visit to Canada’s largest city will result in street closures and an increased police presence.
Dozens of buses and trams have been added to the schedules to serve the area around the stadium. Additional trips and extended hours are also planned in certain sectors to accommodate people who wish to take public transportation to return home at the end of the evening.
“We are preparing for something that could resemble the arrival of the Beatles in the 60s,” said Stuart Green, who is a spokesperson for the Toronto Transit Commission.
The crowds had already started to arrive on Wednesday, as the official merchandise stores opened their doors. Lines formed at kiosks selling $60 t-shirts, $30 tote bags and sweaters ranging from $90 to $115.
Some people we met there had long since obtained their tickets, while others were hoping for a last-minute miracle.
Planetary phenomenon
Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour is a true global phenomenon: everywhere it goes, tickets are selling like hotcakes.
According to Destination Toronto, the six concerts at the Rogers Center are expected to generate $282 million in economic activity. Swift’s residency in the Ontario capital will stretch over two weeks, with shows taking place Thursday, Friday and Saturday both this week and next week.
In early December, Swift will make her only other Canadian stop announced so far, three nights at Vancouver’s BC Place.
Ten “eras” of Swift’s career are represented at the concert. Each era encompasses one of his albums, with the exception of the “Folklore/Evermore” era, which covers two.
A few hours before the first show, the cheapest tickets still available on the resale site StubHub were listed at more than $2,000 for seats with partially obstructed views.
Although prices fluctuate constantly, some prime seats were priced over $10,000.
