Toronto has become the centre of the Taylor Swift universe as the international megastar plays the Rogers Centre for six sold-out shows starting this week.
It’s been a long time coming. Rogers spent millions on renovations. Toronto renamed the path from Nathan Phillips Square to the Rogers Centre “Taylor Swift Way.” City staff even activated the emergency operations centre just in case anything goes wrong.
For good reason. The city is expecting up to 500,000 visitors during the concerts and an economic impact of more than $282 million.
Whether you’re one of the lucky thousands who scored tickets, or are planning to leave the city to avoid the inevitable chaos, here is everything you need to know.
With Taylor Swift heading to Toronto, we hit the streets to find out if anybody was able to score tickets to any of her sold-out shows.
When are the Toronto Taylor Swift tour dates?
The Eras Tour is coming to Toronto for two weekends, with three nights each Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Swift will be playing Rogers Centre with opener Gracie Abrams from Nov. 14 to 16 and Nov. 21 to 23 — becoming the first artist to perform six shows at Rogers Centre.
The Toronto shows will be part of Swift’s return to the Eras Tour after her London shows in August marked the end of the European leg.
After her six shows in Toronto, Swift will head to Vancouver for three shows at BC Place.
Can I still get tickets to Taylor Swift?
All six Eras Tour nights in Toronto are sold out with fans travelling far and wide to catch the world’s biggest superstar on stage. Some resale tickets are going for as high as $121,000 on the resale market.
If you were wait-listed by Ticketmaster, then you may still have a shot at being “The Lucky One.” For some of the previous shows, fans were taken off the wait-list for additional tickets as late as the weekend before the concert.
However, some fans have been using social media to buy and sell tickets at face-value, but that comes with its own risk of possible scammers.
What if I didn’t get a ticket?
In many cities with open stadiums, fans without tickets got together outside the stadium to enjoy the show. In Munich, over 20,000 fans assembled at a hill just outside the stadium to experience the Eras Tour.
The same experience won’t be possible in Toronto. The Rogers Centre has confirmed that the stadium roof will be closed for all six shows and non-ticketholders will not be allowed to stand outside the stadium.
On all six concert dates, “Toronto’s Version: Taylgate ‘24” will be running from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the nearby Metro Toronto Convention Centre and will include a live DJ mixing Swift’s hits, singalong spaces for the vocally brave and a massive space to create friendship bracelets.
Organizers of Taylor Swift Dance Party Canada have also planned after-parties for all six nights at the Antler Room at The Loose Moose on Front Street at 11 p.m.
What am I allowed to take inside the Rogers Centre?
Bags are “strongly discouraged” by the Rogers Centre. You’re allowed to bring in one small bag, either a clear bag no larger than 12” x 6” x 12,” or a non-clear bag no larger than 4.5” x 6.5.” Exceptions are made for bags carrying breast pumps and medical devices.
There will be no bag storage or coat check on site, meaning you’ll be denied entry if your bag isn’t allowed.
All friendship bracelets must “fit on your person” and can’t be carried by a separate bag, carabiner or shower ring.
Anything that covers part or all of the face is prohibited, with exceptions made for medical masks and religious garments.
You’re allowed to bring in one factory-sealed plastic water bottle that is 500 millilitres or less, but all glass and metal containers are banned. There are water fountains located around the ballpark. No outside food is allowed.
If you’re planning to bring a sign, it must be smaller than 11 inches by 17 inches.
Selfie sticks aren’t allowed. Portable chargers are, but only one per person and it must be the same size or smaller than your phone.
It’s likely that Rogers Centre, as well as law enforcement, will be ramping up security measures ahead of the concert dates after Swift’s Vienna dates were cancelled after being the target of an alleged terror attack.
What do I need to know about the Rogers Centre ahead of time?
Lineups will open at 3:30 p.m. on concert dates, and the Rogers Centre “will not be accessible prior to this time,” organizers said.
The stadium will set up a perimeter around the venue with four zone access points, designated on your ticket within 48 hours of the show.
Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and the show will start at 6:45 p.m.
The Rogers Centre accepts only digital tickets scanned through the Ticketmaster app on a mobile device — screenshots of barcodes, paper or PDF tickets aren’t accepted. Each attendee needs to have their own personal ticket. Tickets can be transferred via the Ticketmaster app, though after some high-profile account hackings, transfers will open only three days before each event.
You should be OK for cell service, too — Rogers has spent $8 million to improve the network within the Rogers Centre.
Gates are assigned on mobile tickets, with Gate 7 — on the south side of the Rogers Centre along Bremner Boulevard — the designated accessible entrance.
Confused about where to go or where you’re sitting? Here’s a seat map of the Rogers Centre for Taylor Swift’s shows:
A map of the Rogers Centre layout for the Taylor Swift concert dates.
TicketmasterCan I buy Taylor Swift merch if I don’t have tickets?
Want some Eras Tour merch? You can cop some throughout the Rogers Centre concourse. On non-show days, merch will be available at Gate 1, 5 and 9A — but you’ll be subject to the same bag policy as concertgoers to enter the store.
Fans, some having flown across the globe to see Swift in Toronto, lined up for hours at the Rogers Centre this week hoping to score a T-shirt or a poster ahead of her concerts.
How do I get to the Rogers Centre?
Organizers are encouraging fans to use public transit. On a normal day, the Rogers Centre is a 13-minute walk from Union Station, the transit hub for the subway (TTC), regional transit (GO) and intercity trains (Via Rail).
Will transit be running?
The TTC announced it will bolster service to the subway and streetcars, and deploy dozens of additional staff on the nights of each performance.
As for Wheel-Trans, the TTC said W-T buses will be staged at key locations in the downtown core from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on concert days for anyone needing immediate access to the service during an unplanned closure.
The TTC said it’s paying close attention to the post-show surge, deploying dozens of additional staff along all routes in the area of Rogers Centre and Union Station, including Special Constables and other first responders.
What if I’m driving?
If you do decide to drive — or if you’re dropping someone off — Bremner Boulevard will close at 2 p.m. on concert days, as will Blue Jays Way between Spadina Avenue and Front Street. After the concert, both eastbound and westbound off ramps of the Gardiner Expressway will close.
These closures are expected to lift around 1 a.m.
The Rogers Centre itself will have no public parking available, but other independent lots around the stadium will.
Designated drop-off and pickup spots will be available at the following locations: Front Street (between Bathurst and Spadina), Lake Shore Boulevard (between Rees and Spadina), Queens Quay (between Bay and Freeland), Bay Street (between Richmond and Wellington) and York Street (between Wellington and Adelaide).
What will the weather be like?
The long-term forecast for the first concert weekend is sunny with clouds, while the second weekend features some rain. Highs of 12 degrees and lows of three degrees are expected.
There will be no coat check available inside the ballpark.
With files from Abhiraj Lamba and Elissa Mendes
Update – Nov. 7, 2024
This article has been updated to clarify, in several places, the difference between Rogers and Rogers Centre.
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