Taylor Swift fans are flocking to the Entertainment District this week and are arriving hours before their favourite pop star hits the stage for The Eras Tour in Toronto.
By 3 p.m. on Friday, hundreds had already lined up outside Rogers Centre ahead of the 7 p.m. show. Swifties were dressed in their favourite Eras-inspired outfits as they awaited an evening of passionate singalongs, surprise performances and elaborate set changes.
Event organisers said ticketholders are permitted to being queuing at 3:30 p.m., with gates opening an hour later — but many of Swift’s fans arrived much earlier.
Although Swift’s 44-song marathon didn’t start until about 8 p.m., fans told TorontoToday they arrived at the venue early to guarantee they would make it to their seats on time.
Several people standing outside mentioned they didn’t want to miss a second of Gracie Abrams’s performance — the opening act — while others wanted to enjoy the atmosphere and reunite with old friends.
Many fans exchanged homemade friendship bracelets, sang Swift tunes and reminisced on previous concerts they’d attended to help pass the time.
TorontoToday kept some of those Swifties occupied during a visit to Rogers Centre on Friday afternoon. Fans were asked about their inspired outfit selections and favourite songs before they headed inside.
The buzz in the area started days before Taylor Swift even arrived, as discussed during a recent episode of Inside the Village.
The pop star will perform six concerts in Toronto and will wrap up the first half of her shows on Saturday before she returns to Rogers Centre from Nov. 21 to 23.
Concertgoers who arrive after the gates open can expect to wait in line for some time. There’s a heavy police and security presence in the area to keep the crowds organized.
Getting dropped off or parking away from the area is recommended for fans who commute by car.
