Thousands of fans wearing glitter, velvet and friendship bracelets descend on the city

It’s been a long time coming.

Doors have officially opened for the first of six sold-out Taylor Swift shows at the Rogers Centre Thursday, with hundreds of excited fans already lined up outside wearing velvet, glitter and decorated outfits.

But not all of the fans surrounding the stadium will get a chance to catch the concert, with many coming long distances and dressing up with the sheer hope of scoring last minute tickets.

Tens of thousands of Swifties are expected to flood the streets over the course of her concerts — part of her record-breaking Eras Tour, the first tour in history to gross over $1 billion.

Sisters Danielle and Jessica Krcel say they started their day at 5 a.m. and drove for eight hours from Timmins, Ont., for the show.

“It’s been a dream to come,” said Danielle.

‘We’re going to ugly cry’

They say they’re most excited to see the show’s introduction in the flesh after seeing clips all over social media, along with hearing the infamous song All Too Well live.

“We’re going to ugly cry,” Jessica said.

Leonardo Dell’Anno, wearing a glittery jacket on his way to the show, says he’s been a Taylor Swift fan since she put out her first song. Even though he’s been to past concerts, he says with so many people coming from all around the world, this one will be different.

“That energy is going be unlike anything, it’s electrifying,” he said.

Dell’Anno won his tickets, but others outside the stadium weren’t as lucky.

Fan Marsha Stagg flew to Toronto from Halifax in hopes of getting tickets for her and her best friend, who is flying in from Calgary and has Stage 4 cancer.

Going to Swift’s show is on her friend’s bucket list, Stagg said.

If Stagg doesn’t get tickets on Thursday, “I’m going to come back tomorrow and hold my little sign up,” she said.

Swift fan Marsha Stagg is hoping to get last minute tickets to a show outside the Rogers Centre for herself and her best friend, who has Stage 4 cancer. (Martin Trainor/CBC)

Resale nosebleed tickets for Swift’s opening Toronto show were selling for upwards of $2,000 just hours before concert Thursday, though police have warned fans to be wary of scammers.

Swift will go on to perform at the Rogers Centre on Friday and Saturday, then on Nov. 21, 22 and 23. The city said it’s expecting up to 500,000 visitors over the course of her shows.

The tour’s impact stretches beyond its destinations in Toronto and (eventually) Vancouver. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of Thursday’s show. “We’re ready for you, @taylorswift13. Good choice wrapping the Eras Tour in Canada,” he wrote.

WATCH | Fan looking to cross Swift concert off bucket list:

Swifties swap stories of surprise tickets and bucket list appeal

Taylor Swift plays her first of six sold out shows in Toronto Thursday. Fans are gathering downtown to buy merch, trade friendship bracelets, and as CBC’s Chris Glover found out, some are looking to cross the Eras Tour off their bucket list.

The concerts are expected to generate about $282 million for the city, according to Destination Toronto, a non-profit that represents the city’s tourism sector.

Earlier this month, the city revealed signs designating the route from Rogers Centre to Nathan Phillips Square as Taylor Swift Way.

The 22 signs will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

The city revealed signs designating the route from Rogers Centre to Nathan Phillips Square as Taylor Swift Way earlier this month. (Clara Pasieka/CBC)

Workshops, fan events planned across city

Fan events planned at venues across Toronto on show dates, such as Taylgate ’24 at the Metro Convention Centre, are expected to bring even more people to the city.

Tay BoBo, a Taylor Swift drag artist, is hosting an Eras Tour drag brunch at O’Grady’s on Church Street this Saturday and again on Nov. 23. She says demand for Taylor Swift drag queens has spiked for these two weeks.

BoBo performed her own three-and-a-half hour Eras-inspired show on Wednesday night — about the same length as Swift’s concert.

“It’s just wanting to provide people with that experience and for myself to live that fantasy as well,” BoBo told CBC’s Metro Morning.

Taylor BoBo, a Taylor Swift drag artist, is hosting a Swift-themed drag brunch at O’Grady’s on Church Street on Saturday and again on Nov. 23. (Alexi Raymond/CBC)

Kara Marie, who is going to Swift’s shows on Thursday and Friday, is hosting friendship bracelet-making workshops at Taylgate ’24 and at The Well this week.

“It brings us together as a community and it’s our symbol to show each other, we’re all Swifties, we’re all in this together,” she said in an interview with Metro Morning.

Marie started an Instagram account, @soloswiftieca, where fans can connect online.

“We’ve all connected so wonderfully, we’re all best friends,” she said. “A lot are going to the shows together that had no friends to go with originally.”

Swiftie Tanya Todd is attending Thursday’s concert with her family. She said she’s looking forward to hearing her kids sing during the show. (Alexi Raymond/CBC)

Swiftie Tanya Todd is dressing up as a friendship bracelet for Thursday’s concert, which she’s attending with her family.

She’s also hosting a friendship bracelet-making workshop for One of a Kind Winter Show at Exhibition Place on Nov. 22.

Todd said she watched her two daughters grow up listening to Swift’s music.

“Someone asked me what song am I looking forward to hearing, and I’m actually really looking forward to hearing my kids sing,” she said.

What you need to know about attending the concert

The TTC says it will have extra service on subway lines downtown in the hours before and after the concerts, with no planned closures.

It is also adding extra service to these streetcar routes: 19 Bay, 509 Harbourfront, 510D Spadina and 511 Bathurst.

A full list of transit information and road closures can be found here.

The show starts at 6:45 p.m. Rising singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams will open all Swift’s Toronto shows.

Ticketholders are not allowed to arrive or line up before 3:30 p.m. on show dates, the stadium says.

“Non-ticketholders should not travel to Rogers Centre and will not be permitted to stand outside the stadium,” the stadium website says.

Ticketholders are allowed to bring one bag, either a clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote with maximum dimensions of 12 inches by six inches by 12 inches, or a non-clear bag with maximum dimensions of 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.

Oversized bags carrying medical devices and breast pumps are allowed.

Outside food and drink are not allowed in the stadium. Fans are allowed to bring one 500-millilitre or less, factory-sealed, soft-sided clear plastic water bottle.

WATCH | Fans line up for concert merchandise Wednesday:

‘I spent almost $600’: Splurging Swifties descend on Toronto

Tens of thousands of Taylor Swift fans are expected to spend a lot of cash throughout six concerts in Toronto. Tourism and hospitality businesses could see an economic boost of almost $300 million.