As the weekend approaches, Nashville is gearing up for a fan takeover as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour takes over the city with three nights of concerts at Nissan Stadium. However, this event can cause significant traffic congestion, as several roads in East Nashville and downtown Nashville will be closed near the venue.
Ticket Sales Fiasco
Since the initial ticket sales in late 2022, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour performances have been a hot topic of conversation. The Ticketmaster website crashed as millions of fans attempted to acquire pre-sale tickets, leaving many without tickets frustrated. In response, the Attorney General of Tennessee, Jonathan Skrmetti, opened a consumer protection investigation to determine if Ticketmaster had broken anti-trust rules. Additionally, fans filed claims against the American sales and distribution corporation, alleging that Ticketmaster dominates the primary ticket market while expanding into the secondary market and receiving additional fees every time a ticket is resold.
Ticketmaster’s Apology
Ticketmaster publicly apologized to Taylor Swift and her fans in the wake of the ticket sales fiasco. However, it does not appear to have discouraged fans from attending. It is anticipated that this weekend’s three events will have a combined attendance of 180,000 people, approximately the same as the city of Chattanooga.
Fans’ Journey to Nashville
Many fans, including Brandon Ledbetter, who came from Johnson City, traveled great distances to attend the concert. Ledbetter stated that this was his first visit to the location and compared it to things he’s used to, saying, “Compared to the things I’m used to, this is a significantly larger size.” Nicole Peebles, another Swiftie, traveled from Pensacola, Florida, expressing her excitement at becoming part of the Eras Tour community and surroundings.
The Concert Experience
During the days leading up to the show, hundreds of fans queued around the stadium’s perimeter to purchase goods. The arena was flooded with thousands of people in the hours before Friday’s performance. Mackenzie Cavallero, who flew in from Tampa, Florida, mentioned that she loves many of Taylor Swift’s songs, but one particular lyric seemed to ring true for the event: “It’s a long time coming.” Cavallero expressed her excitement and said that attending the concert has been on her list of things to do before she dies.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has caused a buzz among fans, with thousands expected to attend the three-day event in Nashville. While the ticket sales fiasco caused frustration for many, it has not dampened fans’ excitement for the concert experience. As Nashville prepares for the influx of fans, it’s clear that the Eras Tour has taken over the city, and fans from all over the country are excited to be a part of it.
