“Luckily we didn’t have to remortgage our homes”: Meet the Swifties who attended the first night of the Eras Tour

After months of countdowns and ticket-buying frenzies, the moment Swifties have been waiting for is finally here: Taylor Swift has arrived. Her record-setting six-night run at the Rogers Centre is the first time she’s been in the city since 2018, and it is a big deal for fans. On opening night, Swift devotees from across the country and beyond gathered in droves outside the stadium, which is adorned with a 40-metre-long inflatable friendship bracelet passed on from the tour’s stop in Indianapolis. People of all ages were decked out in costumes that paid homage to Swift’s discography, buzzing with excitement as they prepared to experience the Eras Tour IRL. Before the show, we asked some of the 50,000 concert goers how they secured their tickets, why they absolutely had to see Swift live and whether they think the city went overboard with its Swift fever.

Paige Harget, 36, office manager; Nancy Martindell, 47, CEO of an IT company; and family

You’re from Pennsylvania. How did you end up at the show here in Toronto?

Nancy: We originally bought tickets to the tour’s stop in Philadelphia, but one of the kids got sick. We had to leave after just three songs. So we knew we needed another shot at it.

Related: Meet Tay Bobo, Toronto’s Taylor Swift impersonator

So this is your first time at the Eras Tour?

Nancy: No, we’ve been to two others. We took the kids to a show in Santa Clara in 2023 to make up for Philadelphia, then Paige and I went to London, England, just the two of us.

Oh, wow, so what made you buy tickets a third time?

Nancy: The kids wanted to hear the Tortured Poets Department part of the concert.

Paige: It’s a new addition since we went last year. The kids have never been to another country before—they got passports just for this! It’s all very exciting.

Jaden Beals, 22, receptionist (right)

Is this your first Taylor Swift show? Yes! It’s been a very long time coming. I’ve wanted to go see her for years. I feel so lucky to be going to the Eras show because it’s the Taylor Swift concert.

As a Torontonian, what do you think it means for the city that Taylor decided to stop here? It’s absolutely monumental. She is such a powerful force in the world, and the fact that she came to Toronto is everything for us. The city has been preparing, and we’re ready for her.

You don’t think we went a little over board with the street signs and everything? You know what, I understand where people are coming from when they say we are doing too much. But, at the same time, we have to find moments in our lives to commit and care about something, especially now when everything feels dreary and dreadful. Doing things that inspire people, that spark a fire and excite people—that’s what’s really important. So everything the city is doing is worth it, 100 per cent.

Brenden Howson, 25, flour miller, and Mat Stevenson, 32, paramedic

Tell me about your outfits. Are you freezing?
Mat: We were inspired by the idea of like, “This is perfect football weather. We took a wrong turn on our way to the football game and ended up at the wrong venue, but we’re gonna make the most of it.”

Do you consider yourselves Swifties?

Mat: Of course!

Brenden: How could we not be? We painted her initials on our chests.

What’s your favorite Taylor Swift song?

Mat: That’s tough, there are so many.

Brenden: Definitely "…Ready for It?" off the Reputation album. Mostly, though, I just can’t wait to hear everyone scream when Taylor first walks out.

Melissa Sharun, 31, labour delivery nurse; Elizabeth McCaffrey, 28, engineer and wedding planner; and Leah Loeppkoi, 31, mechanical engineer

How much did you all spend on your tickets?

Melissa: We got pre-sale, so they were only $150 each, but we’re in the nosebleeds.

Elizabeth: We got lucky. We didn’t have to remortgage our homes.

Is this your first Eras Tour concert?

Elizabeth: It’s the second time for me and Melissa, and the three of us came out from Calgary for it. We are going to cry all night.

Have you guys gotten any hate for going a second time?

Elizabeth: We’ve gotten some flak, but I’m a big fan. I still have a piece of confetti in my phone case from the Red tour almost ten years ago. I single-handedly keep her afloat with how much money I pay for merchandise, CDs, everything. But Taylor has always been with me, through good times and bad times—this isn’t just a phase. My mom said I’d grow out of it, so, Mom, if you’re listening: it’s not a phase. I’m 28, and I still love her.

Melissa: We ignore the haters.

Jordan Berkompas, 27, content creator, and Jamie Kropinski, 22, student

How did you guys land your tickets? And for how much?

Jordan: Last week we were on X, and there was a random QR code drop to buy tickets. We didn’t get them, but then two days later there was another, and we were chosen. We were 500th in line. We waited for hours then somehow got them! They were $600 each, which is a steal compared to the resale prices some people are paying.

Related: A TPS fraud cop on the rise of Taylor Swift ticket scams

How do you justify $600 US for one ticket?

Jamie: You just have to see it.

Jordan: We’ve been dying to go but haven’t had the chance. Now we’re at the tail end of her tour, and we’ve been hearing how amazing it is and how good the ambience is with all the fans. We didn’t doubt it would be worth it.

Are you from Toronto? Are you paying for accommodations?

Jordan: We’re from Detroit, so we drove over. It was the first time we’ve driven over the bridge alone, which was nerve-racking. It took five hours.

Jamie: We’re staying at the Fairmont, paying $400 each per night. We didn’t think that was so bad.

Jordan: We thought it would be worse because it was so last minute. Plus, we’re a fifteen-minute walk away from the stadium. You can’t beat that.

Katelyn Martinson, 35, fitness instructor

Where are you from? Boston. I literally took trains, planes and automobiles to get here, but it’s all been worth it. I’ve been eyeing these Toronto tickets since the summer.

How did you get them? They were a complete surprise. My husband told me yesterday that we were coming—he just wrote it on a Post-it note and left it for me to find. I only had eight hours to prep. I was Taylor Swift for Halloween, so I already had the bodysuit, and I made this jean jacket yesterday.

How have you been enjoying Toronto? I love it here. I thought there would be more French, though. I tried speaking to someone at the mall in French, and they did not know what I was saying.

Sabrina Marshall, 33, community living support staff

What are your thoughts on Toronto renaming streets for Taylor Swift’s visit? It is so cool. I’m from Hamilton, and it was the first thing I wanted to take a picture with when I got here today. I couldn’t believe the effort that all the nearby restaurants and stores have put in to make this special for all of us. So you don’t think it’s a little much? No way. We should celebrate that one woman can make this much of an impact. The money she is bringing into Toronto, the happiness she brings everyone, it makes for such a cool atmosphere. The city should be a part of that.

Malia de la Cruz, 18, university student, and Mayelle de la Cruz, 16, high school student

How did you score tickets?
Malia: We got the pre-sale code and literally started jumping with joy. The next day we woke up at six in the morning to get in the queue. Our tickets were $150 each.

Where are you from and where are you guys staying?
Mayelle: We’re from Vancouver, but Malia, my sister, is a student here, so we didn’t have to pay for hotels or anything. I’ve been staying with her in her dorm since Tuesday.

How did you guys prepare for the concert?

Mayelle: I was very stressed about my outfit. I made it myself, but I second-guessed it this morning and almost went to the Eaton Centre to buy a new one. I’m happy I didn’t. I love the blue—I’m in my Midnights era.

Malia: This is an old dance costume, but it’s very Speak Now.

Mayelle: I also made 200 bracelets. It took me two months this summer.

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.