The 'Swifties' storm Gelsenkirchen
The day fans, both small and large, have been eagerly waiting for has finally arrived: On Wednesday evening, Taylor Swift will hold her first Germany concert as part of her "Eras Tour" in Gelsenkirchen. The excitement is palpable.
"Shake It Off", "Anti-Hero", and "Love Story" at Schalke: On Wednesday evening, US pop singer Taylor Swift will perform in Gelsenkirchen for the first of her seven Germany concerts. The 34-year-old will then bring a plethora of her hits to the stage in the Veltins-Arena.
Approximately 60,000 fans of the singer are expected to attend her first Germany concert of the "Eras Tour". The city also anticipates thousands more fans without tickets. Cheerleaders are expected to welcome the "Swifties" at the train station, which the city booked specifically for this occasion.
Swift's world tour began in March 2023 and caused a global sensation. Shows were sold out within minutes. In the US, the ticketing system collapsed due to unprecedented demand. This is also due to the fact that the singer had not toured in the past five years. Her last Germany tour was even nine years ago.
"Swift Town" in Gelsenkirchen
The first "Swifties" were already seen at the Veltins-Arena several days before the opening concert. They wanted to check out the site or buy Merchandise of the singer. Some even tried to camp on the spot to secure a good place in line. However, this is not allowed.
The city has therefore advised fans without concert tickets to visit numerous attractions in the city center instead. The highlight is an open-air party named "Taylor Town", which was scheduled to open on Wednesday afternoon and will take place at all concert dates. Near the party grounds, a 90 square meter artwork by the singer's fans will amaze and inspire photography.
"We expect many foreign visitors, which makes the situation a bit challenging," said a spokesperson for the police. However, the department has a security concept in place that has proven effective at concerts by other superstars like Ed Sheeran and the Rolling Stones. In general, "a peaceful audience" is expected.
Over 200,000 fans expected
Since tickets in the US and Canada are more expensive than in Europe, some "Swifties" fly over the Atlantic to attend the singer's concerts. In Facebook groups, international fans exchanged tips for the journey to Germany beforehand.
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr provides twelve additional trains on concert days to facilitate travel. After each concert, around 40 trains leave from the Gelsenkirchen main station. 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.
Gelsenkirchen expects around three concerts to attract approximately 200,000 fans - that's almost four fifths of the city's population. Further Germany shows will take place in Hamburg (July 23 and 24) and Munich (July 27 and 28).
Taylor Swift's performance in Gelsenkirchen isn't just limited to music, as fans can also enjoy the "Taylor Town" open-air party, featuring a 90 square meter artwork created by her fans. The Variety magazine named Taylor Swift the top-earning artist in the world of pop music for 2022, further cementing her status in the entertainment industry.
