Die hard fans queue overnight for Swift tickets, braving ‘extreme’ heat and pollen warnings
Fans began queuing outside box offices more than 24 hours before Taylor Swift resale tickets went live, with some braving “extreme” heat and pollen warnings.
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Massive lines are continuing to grow at box offices across Victoria and New South Wales as desperate Taylor Swift fans attempt to get their hands on resale tickets for the popstars’ The Eras Tour.
As of 9am there were about 300 people waiting in line in Penrith and at least 120 in Melbourne’s CBD.
Limited additional tickets for Swift’s Melbourne and Sydney shows are capped at four per person, per show, and go on sale at 10am and 4pm in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.
Disappointed fans were heartbroken to learn Sydney tickets sold out before 11am, less than one hour after they went on sale.
Ticketek reassured frustrated consumers the online platform where tickets could be purchased was successfully processing payments, however demand for the tickets remained “incredibly high”.
The most eager of fans began queuing in Melbourne’s CBD as early as 1pm on Thursday, with many more joining the line despite sweltering forecast temperatures of 32C.
The fresh batch of tickets is being released on Friday after a record-breaking number of Australians attempted to buy tickets earlier this year.
Those queuing have also been warned to remain cautious as grass pollen forecasts right across Victoria remain at “extreme” levels on Friday.
Lines were already in the double digits in Melbourne’s CBD at around 4pm Thursday — 24 hours before tickets are set to go on sale.
“My girlfriend got up at 4am to get there, she’s 62nd in the queue,” one person wrote on social media.
“The CBD rough headcount at 7.15am (is) maybe around 130 people,” another said.
“The line is around the corner and I’m at the bloody end thanks to three no show trams this morning.”
Another fan wrote that the queue at the box office on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula had exceeded 100 people by 5.30am.
One man, who began queuing in Penrith at 11.30pm on Thursday, told Today he was feeling “nervous” about acquiring the tickets for his wife and daughters.
“It is going to be a long day crying if I don’t get one,” he said.
“I’m not going home without one.”
“I’m gonna wake up at like 6am to see what the go is because I’m sure someone will be there and post something and if it’s not too bad I’ll go in,” one hopeful Swiftie posted to social media on Thursday.
“But like I’m also not sure I should because I get heat exhaustion very easily and it’s going to be 33C.”
On Friday morning they revealed they had made the devastating decision not to queue in person and to try their luck online.
“I regretted not doing it last time and I’m not doing it again because it’s just way too hot,” they said.
Some fans slammed the ticket acquisition process, claiming that allowing in-person queues put those with disabilities or other personal obstacles at a disadvantage.
“I am losing hope of being able to get tickets because a lot of people are lining up which I can’t do,” one woman wrote on social media.
“I don’t have my license and the closest one to me is Shepparton which is 75km away from me.”
Prices for tickets on sale today begin at $79.90, for an obstructed view seat, and reach as high as $1249.90 for the ‘It’s Been A Long Time Coming Package’.
Fans were adamant that they would do whatever it took to see their favourite pop star on stage.
“Even though restricted views may not the best seats but at least you are at the show,” one said.
“Any seat will do.”
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Originally published as Die hard fans queue overnight for Swift tickets, braving ‘extreme’ heat and pollen warnings
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