Music - Taylor Swift brings her "Eras Tour" to Gelsenkirchen
"Shake It Off," "Anti-Hero," and "Love Story" at Schalke: US Pop singer Taylor Swift performs the first of her seven Germany concerts in Gelsenkirchen. The 34-year-old will bring a multitude of her hits to the stage in the Veltins-Arena in the evening.
Approximately 60,000 fans of the singer are expected for her first Germany concert of the "Eras" Tour. The city also anticipates thousands more fans who will come to Gelsenkirchen without a ticket. Fans will be greeted at the train station by cheerleaders hired specifically for this occasion.
Swift's world tour started in March 2023 and caused a worldwide sensation. Shows were sold out within minutes. In the USA, the Ticketmaster ticketing system collapsed due to unprecedented demand. This is also due to the fact that the singer had not toured in the previous five years, and her last Germany tour was nine years ago.
"Swifties" have been in the city for days
The first "Swifties" were seen at the Veltins-Arena days before the opening concert. They wanted to check out the site or buy merchandise from the singer. Some even tried to camp on the premises to secure a good spot in the line. However, this is not allowed.
An unauthorized stay at the arena without a concert ticket is also not permitted. The city therefore advised fans to visit numerous attractions in the city center instead. The highlight is an open-air party named "Taylor Town," which opens Wednesday afternoon and takes place at all concert dates. Near the party area, a 90 square meter artwork by the singer's fans will amaze and photographers.
Many fans from abroad are expected
"We expect many foreigners, which makes the situation a bit more challenging," said a spokesperson for the Police. The department, however, relies on a security concept that has proven successful at performances by other superstars like Ed Sheeran or the Rolling Stones. Generally, "a peaceful audience" is expected.
Since tickets in the USA and Canada are more expensive than in Europe, "Swifties" from other countries fly over the Atlantic to attend the singer's concerts. In Facebook groups, international fans exchanged tips for traveling to Germany beforehand.
Additional trains will facilitate travel
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr provides twelve additional trains on concert days to facilitate travel. In total, 40 trains leave from the Gelsenkirchen main station after each concert, as the city announced.
The police recommended that fans use the car park at the Gelsenkirchen Zoo and take the Shuttlebus or use public transportation to get to the Veltins-Arena instead.
Gelsenkirchen expects around 200,000 fans for the three concerts - that's almost four fifths of the population. Further Germany shows follow in Hamburg (July 23 and 24) and Munich (July 27 and 28).
- Taylor Swift, known as a US-Pop singer from the United States of America, will perform her first concert in North Rhine-Westphalia at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
- The concert, part of Swift's "Eras" Tour, will bring her hit songs like "Shake It Off," "Anti-Hero," and "Love Story" to the eager crowd.
- With approximately 60,000 ticket-holders and thousands more visiting without tickets, the city of Gelsenkirchen is preparing for a large influx of Taylor Swift's fans, known as "Swifties."
- The police in Gelsenkirchen are anticipating an increased number of foreign fans due to ticket prices being more affordable in Europe than in the USA and Canada, and they have a secure plan in place to ensure a peaceful concert experience.
- Swift's Germany tour stop follows her world tour that began in March 2023, causing a worldwide sensation with sold-out shows in just minutes, leading to ticket system failures in the US.
- To accommodate the large number of fans, the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr will provide twelve additional trains for each concert day, with a total of 40 trains departing from Gelsenkirchen main station after every show.
