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Taylor Swift in Sydney: A guide to what happens inside the stadium

In the Swiftie spirit, we’ve compiled a guide to all the tips, tricks and hacks learnt in Melbourne as fans prepare for Taylor’s Sydney concerts.

'Melbourne, you are the love of my life', Swift's final Eras concert at the MCG

While Melbourne may be the love of Taylor Swift’s life, the global pop star has landed in Sydney ready to wow Swifties with the second Australian leg of her Eras Tour.

So, in the Swiftie spirit, we’ve compiled this guide to all the tips, tricks and hacks learnt in Melbourne, which fans need to know for Taylor’s upcoming Sydney concerts.

Taylor Swift performs at the MCG on February 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Getty Images
Taylor Swift performs at the MCG on February 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Getty Images

WHAT SONGS DOES SHE PLAY?

Taylor’s three-and-a-half-hour set comprises songs from nine albums (eras) accompanied by two surprise songs.

Lover

Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince

Cruel Summer

The Man

You Need to Calm Down

Lover

The Archer

Fearless

Fearless

You Belong With Me

Love Story


Evermore

‘tis the damn season

willow

marjorie

champagne problems

tolerate it

Reputation

...Ready for It?

Delicate

Don’t Blame Me

Look What You Made Me Do

Speak Now

Enchanted

Long Live

Red

22

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

I Knew You Were Trouble

All Too Well

Folklore

the 1

betty

the last great American dynasty

august

illicit affairs

my tears ricochet

cardigan

1989

Style

Blank Space

Shake It Off

Wildest Dreams

Bad Blood

Midnights

Lavender Haze

Anti‐Hero

Midnight Rain

Vigilante Shit

Bejeweled

Mastermind

Karma

What surprise songs has she played?

At the beginning of the Eras Tour, Swift said she didn’t want to repeat any surprise songs, meaning that each show was a little different from the last.

However, at her final Melbourne show she announced that she didn’t want to limit herself on which surprise songs she could play.

“I want to be able to play songs more than once if I feel like it,” she announced to the crowd.

The surprise songs she played in Melbourne:

Come Back… Be Here (mashup with Daylight)

Teardrops on My Guitar

Getaway Car (mashup with august, The Other Side of the Door)

this is me trying

Red

You’re Losing Me

Best time to go to the bathroom

Diehard Swifties who don’t want to miss a second of the action took to social media to ask when they should go to the toilet.

The advice is varied but there were a few strategies suggested:

– Go twice before you go in and just sip water for the performance

– Go at the end of the opening act

– Go during All Too Well (10 minutes)

– Hold it

Wear an adult diaper (I don’t recommend this, for the record)

Social media posts have also revealed that some female Swifties used the men’s toilets to avoid the extensive lines outside the women’s.

Fans who attended Taylor Swift's concerts in Melbourne discuss using the bathrooms on social media. Picture: Supplied
Fans who attended Taylor Swift's concerts in Melbourne discuss using the bathrooms on social media. Picture: Supplied

How much does merchandise cost?

If you want to get your hands on merch, be ready to spend some decent money doing so. Some Melbourne Swifties have also posted to Reddit that the merchandise sizing can tend towards oversized so consider sizing down when purchasing. Accor Stadium’s merch stands operate with cashless transactions only.

Black Tour T-shirt $65

Beige Tour T-shirt $65

Black Tour Hoodie $120

Beige Tour Hoodie $120

Bracelet $50

Water Bottle $40

Tour Tote Bag $50

Canvas Tapestry $55

Midnights Vinyl $80

Midnights CD $30

Tour Sweater $120

Navy Long Sleeve T-shirt $85

Quarter Zip Pullover $120

Tour Poster $40

Taylor Swift fans Chelsea Patton and Bella Chalmers with their merchandise. Picture: Valeriu Campan
Taylor Swift fans Chelsea Patton and Bella Chalmers with their merchandise. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Flying to Sydney?

Swifties know no borders when it comes to getting to the concert, with Qantas and Jetstar carrying more than 100,000 passengers into Melbourne from the domestic and trans-Tasman network over the concert period, adding 64 additional flights to meet demand.

It’s likely the airlines will ferry a large number of people up to Sydney for the concerts too.
Melbourne Airport recommends arriving 60-90 minutes before your flight to allow plenty of time for check-in.

If you’re driving to the airport, book your parking online in advance.

Taylor-gating and pass-outs

While the MCG told ticketless Swifties not to gather outside the stadium, thousands did, desperate to get a glimpse of the concert inside. The global practice is known as ‘Taylor-gating’ and for many, is the only way to be part of the concert.

While crowds appeared to be well behaved on Friday evening, ‘Taylor gaters’ were removed from the MCG concourse after just a few songs. The dedicated fans were removed by security after a discussion with police and ushered to a nearby grassed area.

Sydney’s Accor Stadium has already spoken out against the trend and encouraged only those who purchased a ticket to attend.

Additionally, Accor doesn’t have a ‘pass out’ policy, meaning that once inside, Swifties can’t leave the stadium and re-enter.

What you can bring

Swifties attending the Sydney shows will be able to bring friendship bracelets to exchange. They can’t be brought in their own separate bag, or on carabiners, d-rings, shower curtain rings, or others for safety reasons. They can be brought into the stadium in your single allowed bag.

Your bag cannot be larger than an A4-sized piece of paper.

Fans are allowed to bring in one sealed clear soft plastic water bottle no larger than 600Ml which can then be refilled at water stations inside the venue. No metal or hard plastic containers are allowed.

Taylor Swift fans exchange friendship bracelets at the MCG. Picture: Valeriu Campan
Taylor Swift fans exchange friendship bracelets at the MCG. Picture: Valeriu Campan

General info

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour – Accor Stadium Sydney

Dates: Friday 23 February 2024 – Monday 26 February 2024

Time: Gates open at 4.30pm, show starts at 6.20pm (subject to change)

Tickets: General tickets are only available via the Ticketek App.

– Swifties are advised to download the app

– Add the tickets to their Apple or Google Wallets

– Share the tickets with other members of your party

– Ensure your phone is fully charged and the brightness is turned up upon entry

Accor Stadium operates as a cashless venue.

Originally published as Taylor Swift in Sydney: A guide to what happens inside the stadium

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/taylor-swift-in-sydney-a-guide-to-what-happens-inside-the-stadium/news-story/32047df105d6df462724c1bb7603a8ef