Thursday, November 14, 2024

IN PHOTOS | See Swiftmania sweep Toronto

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Valentyna Miziuk takes a selfie outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Valentyna Miziuk takes a selfie outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Valentyna Miziuk takes a selfie outside Rogers Centre stadium on Tuesday, the venue hosting Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. The first of six sold-out shows begins Thursday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which began March 17, 2023, arrives in Toronto for six sold-out shows on Thursday and will wrap after three Vancouver performances in early December.

About 60,000 ticket-holders will gather at the Toronto stadium for each show from Nov. 14-23, with thousands more Swifties expected to attend the pre-show event called Taylgate ’24 at the nearby Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

With opening night upon us, check out the buildup in Toronto from the city’s “Taylor Swift Way” signs to the lineups for merchandise to the hundreds of thousands of fans heading downtown and more.

Nov. 12: Concert merch up for grabs

Tour merchandise went on sale at Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning. It’s the only location in Toronto selling official tour merchandise. Here, fans line up outside the stadium.

Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Fan Brenda Martinez holds an Eras Tour poster outside the venue.

Brenda Martinez holds a poster outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.Brenda Martinez holds a poster outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Brenda Martinez holds a poster outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Brenda Martinez holds a poster outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

A fan shows friendship bracelets outside Rogers Centre.

Nidhi holds out friendship bracelets outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.Nidhi holds out friendship bracelets outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Nidhi holds out friendship bracelets outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

A fan shows off friendship bracelets outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Another fan in mid-pose outside the stadium.

Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Fans line up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

A fan lines up to buy tour merchandise outside Rogers Centre on Nov. 12, 2024. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

An aerial view by drone of the growing lineup outside Gates 5 and 6.

Giant friendship bracelet sign outside the Rogers Centre, aerial shot of crowd size outside Gates 5 and 6, pictured on Nov. 12, 2024.Giant friendship bracelet sign outside the Rogers Centre, aerial shot of crowd size outside Gates 5 and 6, pictured on Nov. 12, 2024.

Giant friendship bracelet sign outside the Rogers Centre, aerial shot of crowd size outside Gates 5 and 6, pictured on Nov. 12, 2024.

An aerial view by drone of the giant friendship bracelet sign and the lineup outside Gates 5 and 6. (Michael Charles Cole/CBC)

(Michael Cole/CBC)

Nov. 4: Toronto renames streets temporarily

A main route through downtown Toronto got a temporary makeover to honour Swift ahead of her six-concert run in the city — and to raise money to help people facing food insecurity.

Signs bearing the name Taylor Swift Way designate the route from Rogers Centre — where Swift will perform — to Nathan Phillips Square, where city hall is located, for the month of November.

A total of 22 signs go up along Queen Street West, John Street, Front Street and Blue Jays Way.

In photos L-R: Neil  Hetherington, Daily Bread Food Bank, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie and Coun. Ausma Malik, on Nov. 4, 2024.In photos L-R: Neil  Hetherington, Daily Bread Food Bank, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie and Coun. Ausma Malik, on Nov. 4, 2024.

In photos L-R: Neil Hetherington, Daily Bread Food Bank, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie and Coun. Ausma Malik, on Nov. 4, 2024.

From L-R: Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie and Coun. Ausma Malik, at the unveiling of the Taylor Swift Way sign on Nov. 4. (Clara Pasieka/CBC)

People take pictures with a newly erected Taylor Swift Way street sign in Toronto on Nov. 5.

People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14.

People take pictures with a newly-erected Taylor Swift Way street sign, in Toronto, on Nov. 8, 2024. The Eras Tour begins a six-show-run in Toronto on Nov. 14. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

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