Tay Tay pens love letter to Sydney amid dad’s Swift exit

Taylor Swift penned a thanks to Sydney for it’s “magical moments” — including her time with Aussie animals at Sydney Zoo — and despite her perceived snub to Taronga, experts say there is no down side to the economic Swift Lift.

Sequined superstar Taylor Swift has given Sydney a huge thank you, but marketing experts say it is her trip to Sydney Zoo that will have the biggest impact on attracting visitors from overseas.

Swift thanked her Sydney fans for “a whirlwind of endless magical moments with you” after her private jet landed in Singapore ahead of another six concerts from Saturday.

During her stay Swift chose to visit Sydney Zoo in the western suburbs for two days running, leaving Sydneysiders baffled about why she would snub the more established 107-year-old Taronga Zoo on Sydney Harbour.

“It’s a marketing dream come true for Sydney Zoo, for millions of disciples will tread in her footsteps — and Taronga will be punching penguins in frustration,” marketing expert and Gruen panellist Toby Ralph said.

He wondered if Swift’s team had just Googled Sydney zoo without realising there was another zoo just across the harbour from her penthouse in Crown or if it was chosen because it was prepared to close the gates for her time there.

Between shows in Sydney, Taylor Swift, centre, bypassed Taronga and its views, left, for Sydney Zoo, right, twice. Once solo, and once with boyfriend Travis Kelce, top right. Pictures: Getty/Supplied

“I’m guessing the latter because everything a commercial enterprise on the scale of her gigantic operation does has a complex back room machinery, that commonly over-considers pedestrian details,” Mr Ralph said.

Swift went to Sydney Zoo in Bungarribee before the start of her Eras tour and again with fly-in fly-out NFL playing boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Travis Kelce hand-in-hand at Sydney Zoo. Picture: 9News

She told fans: “I’m really all about the red panda. I don’t think you guys understand how cool kangaroos are. So strong, so bouncy.”

Marketing analyst Barry Urquhart said people overseas would not realise which zoo Swift had gone to.

“Taronga Zoo may have lost out but Sydney is the winner,” he said. “People overseas will see her at the zoo and her comments about those animals and see Sydney as the gateway to Australia.”

Taronga Zoo issued a statement saying it “would have been thrilled to host Taylor Swift” and that it was grateful she had taken time to “meet some of Australia’s iconic species”.

Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, Sydney… what a whirlwind of endless magical moments with you. I’m so grateful that we got to be the first tour to play Accor Stadium 4 times. I’ll never forget singing with Sabrina, the chaotic acoustic mashups, and the crowds that were louder (singing… pic.twitter.com/TrUpTvFj3q

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) February 28, 2024

Sydney Zoo declined to comment but it is understood it closed the gates to fans while Swift visited.

Photographer Ben McDonald, from Matrix Media, followed her for much of her Sydney stay and said “they closed the zoo for her visit which I don’t think would have happened at Taronga.”

DAD’S SWIFT EXIT

McDonald also photographed Swift getting off a luxury superyacht at Neutral Bay wharf after her final performance and claims her father Scott punched him in the face. Police are still investigating.

Scott Swift with his daughter. Picture: Getty

Swift’s father was allowed to leave the country on his daughter’s private jet even as police investigated the incident.

Swift did not let that dampen her enthusiasm for Sydney in her farewell post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, Sydney … what a whirlwind of endless magical moments with you,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful that we got to be the first tour to play Accor Stadium 4 times.”

She said she would “never forget” singing with opening act Sabrina Carpenter and “the crowds that were louder (singing AND screaming) than I thought humanly possible.

“I want to thank all of the Aussie fans for being so positive and passionate, so funny and wild and FUN. Love you forever,” she posted.

Swift and her entourage including Scott, 71, have arrived in Singapore for six sellout concerts that begin on Saturday.

Swift and her father who is affectionately known as Papa Swift. Picture: Getty Images

Mr McDonald said police had given him an event number but had not indicated if they or when they would speak to Mr Swift.

“I don’t think they have had a chance to speak to him,” Mr McDonald said. “I imagine it will be his lawyers who will be doing most of the talking.”

The incident may have generated some Bad Blood towards Sydney for his 34-year-old daughter.

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