In news that should surprise absolutely no one, cultural juggernaut and reformed horse-girl Taylor Swift will soon touch down in Australia for a run of shows.
Almost the minute it was confirmed that Swift was bringing her widely celebrated Eras tour to Australia, fans began to lose their minds at the prospect of getting – or more importantly, not getting – tickets.
Taylor Swift fans will go above and beyond to catch a glimpse of their hero at one of her seven Australian tour dates.
Swift will perform three concerts in Melbourne from February 16 to 18, and four in Sydney from February 23 to 26, and naturally, every show has sold out. But if there’s one thing Swifties are famous for – besides those weird bracelets they make – it’s their perseverance and sense of community, which brings us to Taylor-gating.
Let’s unpack.
Another day, another Taylor Swift news story.
Oh please, don’t pretend like you’re not a closet Swiftie like the rest of us.
No, I like her. I’m excited about the release of The Dead Poets Society.
You mean The Tortured Poets Department?
Sure, whatever. Anyway, hit me with the latest. What’s going on?
Well, this isn’t actually about Swift per se; it’s more about her fans and the extreme lengths they’ll go to to be close to her.
Ah, yes, they’re a special breed. I want it on the record that Directioners walked so Swifties could run. Shouldn’t they be excited? She’s nearly headed our way!
They’re excited for sure, but also most Swifties won’t be at the shows – it’s a supply-and-demand thing. Taylor sold out all seven dates pretty much instantly, and while she will perform to hundreds of thousands of fans, there were millions of people trying to buy tickets in the presale.
OK, so there are countless sad Swifties, all dressed up with nowhere to go. Right?
This is where it gets interesting; maybe they do have somewhere to go. As Swift’s tour continues around the world, fans who missed out on tickets have taken to congregating in streets and parking lots near the concert venues to sing along to their favourite songs without having to enter the stadiums.
Swifties are taking over parking lots near the Eras Tour venues to sing along without having to enter the stadiums – an act that fans have coined “Taylor-gating”.
Isn’t that called loitering?
No, fans are calling it Taylor-gating, and it’s becoming increasingly popular. Swifties rock up with all their supplies – snacks, drinks and even air mattresses – and then recreate the buzz of the concert from the comfort of the car park.
According to one fan who attended a Taylor-gate in Philadelphia, the atmosphere was “so much fun, I wanna cry, I wanna throw up, and I wanna pass out”.
I’ve thrown up in a car park more than once, and it’s not that fun. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is kind of like tailgating at a football game? What’s the big deal?
Well, Australian Swifties have caught onto the trend, and now Tayl-gating is being planned for her Melbourne and Sydney shows, giving fans who missed out on tickets a chance to be a part of the Eras experience. There are several Facebook groups – some with hundreds, even thousands of members – based around Taylor-gating, complete with venue maps to plan which area is best.
If there’s one thing Australia is famous for, it’s being relaxed about spontaneous fun. So this should be fine …
Exactly. Already, representatives from both Accor Stadium in Sydney and the MCG in Melbourne have moved swiftly to shut down any planned Taylor-gating.
Did you just make a Swift gag?
I did.
Well done. Go on.
Anyway, a spokesperson from Accor encouraged only those who have purchased a ticket to attend. “We want to ensure the best experience for all, which is why only fans with valid tickets should attend the precinct on show nights.”
Meanwhile, the MCG warned fans there would be “no activations in Yarra Park or screens showing the concert live”, and that consumption of alcohol was banned as well as the erection of any marquees or tents. Weirdly, they also banned barbecues.
Credit: Matt Golding
No snags or Swift? Seems unfair.
Indeed.
This is all very sad. If only there were a feature-length movie that captured the Eras tour experience in full so they didn’t feel left out.
Haha.
Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at thomas.mitchell@smh.com.au or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.
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