What to know if you’re headed to see Taylor Swift this weekend

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The biggest pop music tour of the century lands in Minneapolis on Friday when Taylor Swift headlines two sold-out nights at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The tour, which kicked off March 17 in Arizona, has broken numerous records and sold more than 2.4 million tickets the day they went on sale in November. More than 100 shows are scheduled on five continents and will keep Swift on the road through next summer.

“There’s nothing in history to compare,” wrote Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone. “This is her best tour ever, by an absurd margin.”

If you’re headed to one of the shows, or are still looking for tickets, here’s what you need to know.

Tickets

Tickets sold so quickly, Ticketmaster’s website crashed. Public outcry has led to multiple congressional inquires, including calls to break up the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly. As of Wednesday, scalper sites had seats starting at $1,000, and that’s for the 300 level in a building notorious for its poor sound. Be extremely wary of tickets offered on Craigslist and the like, as there are plenty of scammers out there looking to take advantage of desperate fans.

As is often the case for arena and stadium shows, Ticketmaster may list some additional tickets for sale on the day of the show. Those feeling lucky should keep hitting refresh on the site and hope for the best. Just know you’re not alone in your pursuit.

Getting there

I’ve been to every concert at USBS and I’ve taken light rail to nearly every one of them. At $4, it’s a true bargain in an evening that will be filled with plenty of other ways to spend money. I’ve never had a bad experience on the train and in most cases I was surrounded by other concertgoers. Metro Transit will be offering additional trains after the shows.

Those who want to drive should be aware of the traffic congestion that’s common at USBS events. Parking lots also ramp up prices to as much as $60. You can reserve parking spots through USBS’s website.

There are more than 180 bike racks around the stadium as well as designated areas for ride share and cabs.

What to bring

Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and can not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches. Small clutch purses that are 4.5 by 6.5 inches with or without a strap are also permitted.

USBS has a long list of prohibited items on its website, including lights and battery packs, selfie sticks, umbrellas, outside food and beverage, strollers and the like. A good rule of thumb is to bring “no items that may be deemed a safety hazard or annoyance to participants or guests.”

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Cash payments are no longer accepted at the stadium, so if you plan to buy anything, bring a credit or debit card or use a contactless option on your smartphone.

Also, you should think about wearing sensible shoes as you’re going to encounter a whole lot of steps along the way. And give yourself plenty of time to navigate the crowds, which are likely to include ticketless fans who show up to hang around outside.

What to expect

The Daily Telegraph called the tour “one of the most ambitious, spectacular, and charming stadium pop shows ever seen.” It features three stages and pyro, lasers, fireworks and image projection technology. Prepare to be utterly dazzled.

Swift performs for about three hours and 15 minutes, a length that’s basically unheard of for pop music concerts. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the published start time for music is 6:30. There are two opening acts each night: Girl in Red both nights plus Gracie Abrams on Friday and Owenn on Saturday. Expect an end time around 11:15.

The concert is split into 10 “acts,” nine of which are devoted to Swift’s various albums. The ninth act is two surprise acoustic numbers. At some dates, special guests have joined Swift for the first number, including Marcus Mumford, Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner and Maren Morris.

Given that he performed duets with Swift on her pair of 2020 albums, it’s entirely possible we’ll see Eau Claire’s Justin “Bon Iver” Vernon show up at USBS.

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