TORONTO — As Toronto readies for Taylor Swift’s arrival this week, some crowd management and planning experts say additional safety precautions should be taken when tens of thousands of fans fill the city’s downtown core on show nights.
That means being prepared for a sudden shift in crowd dynamics and severe traffic gridlock, despite planned road closures, the experts say.
The city recently announced various traffic and security measures in preparation for up to 500,000 visitors during the megastar’s six sold-out Eras Tour stops at Rogers Centre from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 and the following week from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23.
Tens of thousands of Swifties are expected to use public transit to get to the venue and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where fan event Taylgate’24 is happening. Overlapping events at Scotiabank Arena are expected to bring in even more people.
Before residents and visitors make their way downtown, crowd safety specialist Kevin Kennedy warned they should be prepared for potential changes in crowd dynamics.
The former provincial and Ottawa police officer, who now owns Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions, said the density and movement of crowds can shift quickly.
“Taylor Swift fans tend to be very compliant and supportive of one another, but a situation can occur that changes the dynamic right away because it puts people into a panicked situation,” Kennedy said.
“If something occurs where there’s an emergency, follow the direction of the people who are in charge.”
Kennedy added it’s especially important for parents with children headed to the concerts to communicate their safety plans.
“Parents can tell their kids to step away, get out of it, move to an area that’s less congested,” he said. “People want to get as close as they can, but there hits a point where you might start feeling unsafe. So step back from it — it’s not worth the injury.”
In anticipation of the huge crowds, the city has noted several safety contingencies, such as an emergency operations centre that will be activated during the Eras Tour.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue has said that while the force can’t provide details about its operational plans on the concert dates, people can expect “a significant and visible police presence” both inside and outside the venue.
The city has also announced several traffic measures near Rogers Centre. At 2 p.m. on show days, multiple street blocks around the venue will be restricted to local traffic only. That includes Bremner Boulevard between Spadina Avenue and Simcoe Street, and Blue Jays Way between Spadina Avenue and south of Front Street.