Taylor Swift Eras Tour at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford: Everything you need to know

Welcome home, Taylor Swift.

Swift's three-show run at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford that begins Friday, May 26, isn't exactly a hometown affair for the pop superstar — but it's close.

And close to the heart. Swift and her family summered in Cape May during her childhood and early teen years before the family moved from their home in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Nashville.

“I spent my summers at the Jersey Shore from the time I was 2 until we sold the house in Stone Harbor when I was 14,” Swift told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2009. “It was a pretty magical place to grow up.”

The magic lingers. The Shore made an appearance in the 2021 lyric video for Swift's heartfelt ode to her mom. “The Best Day,” and a young Swift wears a Sea Isle City sweatshirt in a video for “Seven.”

The young Swift was a regular at the Coffee Talk coffeehouse in Stone Harbor.

“It's funny because people say, ‘Oh, did you have any idea?’ and I mean what do I know? I don’t know anything,” said owner Madlynn Zurawski to the (Cherry Hill) Courier-Post. “I just thought she was adorable and cute and (had) a very, very nice family.”

More: Taylor Swift concert tickets for MetLife Stadium on sale, but demand is 'high'

Swift hasn't been a stranger to Jersey since she became a music star. She's been spotted at the Lobster House in Cape May, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House in Avalon, and a Target in Jersey City. In 2016, Swift crashed a wedding in Brant Beach on Long Beach Island and performed her song “Blank Space.”

Swift's show at MetLife is part of her Eras Tour, designed to cover material from her 10 albums, released over the past 17 years. There are 10 choreographed “acts”: Lover, Fearless, Evermore, Reputation, Speak Now, Red, Folklore, 1989, surprise songs, and Midnights. In all, it's more than 40 songs in about three hours.

More: Taylor Swift says sweet hello to Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds' kids, confirms Eagles fandom

At MetLife, Phoebe Bridgers opens all three shows. Gayle joins in on Friday, Gracie Adams on Saturday, and Owenn on Sunday.

Swift's Eras stand at MetLife will mark nine total times she's played the stadium. That's a record until Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band tie it with their scheduled three-show run this summer.

One record that is Swift's forever: In 2013, she became the first female artist to headline MetLife when her “Red Tour” played there.

Check out our Taylor Swift at MetLife Everything You Need to Know below, compiled from information provided by MetLife Stadium and our reporting.

Event schedule

Parking lots open: 12:30 p.m.

Gates open: 4:30 p.m.

Event starts (estimated): 6:30 p.m. Taylor Swift takes the stage at approximately 7:45 p.m.

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Parking/transportation

Parking lots open: 12:30 p.m.

Day of event parking cost: $40 per car; $160 per Bus/RV.

Parking directions: metlifestadium.com/getting-here/directions

Non-rideshare pick-up/drop-off: Follow on-site signage and directions from traffic/parking team members for the dedicated guests with disabilities drop-off location. The drop-off/pick-up area for guests with disabilities is located near Lot C, which is adjacent to the Verizon Gate. All other guest drop-offs are to be conducted on the sidewalk between Lots D and E. This roadway is accessible from Route 120 (North/South) or from the New Jersey Turnpike via 16W.

NJ TRANSIT TRAIN: Trains will operate between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium on the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line. The start time for the rail shuttle varies based on the scheduled start time of the event. Check njtransit.com/MetLifeStadium for complete rail timetables closer to the concert dates. During peak periods prior to an event with rail service, trains operate approximately every 10 to 20 minutes. Customers are advised to consult the rail schedule for the event to note when the final train leaves Secaucus for the stadium and stadium for Secaucus. Visit www.njtransit.com/metlifestadium

COACH USA BUS: Buses will depart at 3:30 p.m. from Area X (41st Street between 8th & 9th Avenus, New York City) at Port Authority. The last departing bus from Port Authority to MetLife Stadium will leave at 6:45 pm. The last bus will leave the stadium 60 minutes after the event ends. Visit coachusa.com/351-meadowlands-express for more information.

Rideshare: A designated Rideshare Zone is located in Lot E off of West Peripheral Road, right outside of the Verizon Gate. When you request a ride from a rideshare service such as Lyft or Uber at MetLife Stadium, your pickup location will default to a pin in the pickup zone. Once you place your request, head to the Rideshare Zone in Lot E and look out for a call or text from your driver to let you know which row they are parked in.

Be advised that rideshare surge pricing is often in effect after the game and larger crowds will result in longer than usual wait times (potentially over an hour) for a car to arrive — and considerably higher prices than what you paid coming to the stadium. Make sure your phone is charged and ready to go if you’re planning to use one of these services.

Shuttles: Shuttle buses are provided to Lot P and the surface parking lots/deck located on the east side (Meadowlands Arena) of the MetLife Sports Complex to the stadium.

Guests parking in Lot P will be dropped-off/picked-up in Lot G (Pepsi Gate) in front of the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Guest parking in the surface lots and in the parking deck near the Arena will be dropped-off/picked-up in Lot C (HCLTech Gate) near the pedestrian bridge. Ticket holders who park in these lots can also walk to MetLife Stadium. They should use the sidewalk from Lot P and the pedestrian bridge from the east side of the Sports Complex. For their safety, guests should not walk on the Sports Complex roadways, cross Route 120 or cross Route 3.

Tailgating

Tailgating is permitted but drones, model aircraft, kites, and any other remote controlled or tethered flying objects are not permitted.

Tailgating should be limited to the lined parking space, and the area directly behind or in front of each vehicle. Blocking drive lanes is prohibited.

Tailgating is also permitted on the medians that separate the parking lots from the roadways. Click here for details.

No ‘Taylor-gating’ for fans without tickets

“For the safety and enjoyment of all those who have tickets, for these shows, we strongly encourage those without tickets not to come to MetLife Stadium on show days,” said MetLife Stadium on social media the afternoon of Wednesday, May 24. “Event tickets corresponding to that evening's concert are required to access the parking lots.”

The parking lots will be at “maximum capacity,” read the advisory.

Merchandise

The MetLife Stadium Flagship Store will be open to the public 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25 to sell tour merchandise. The new “Midnights (Til Dawn Edition)” deluxe album special edition CD will be available only at MetLife starting at 12:30 p.m. Friday. This CD will have a never before heard “Midnights” vault track called “You’re Losing Me.”

Tickets

The shows are sold out. Ticket prices began at $1,200 on the secondary market as of press time.

Who needs a ticket: All guests over 34 inches in height must have a ticket to enter MetLife Stadium. Children up to 34 inches may enter MetLife Stadium free but must share a seat with an accompanying ticketed adult. Occasionally, for select non-NFL events, another policy may be in place.

Ticket office locations: There are ticket offices located at each of the entrance gates to assist with ticket sales and the reprint of lost/stolen tickets. Please note there may be a fee associated with a ticket reprint. Locations that are open will vary by event.

Ticket office hours: The Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On event days, the ticket office will open approximately 3 hours prior to event time.

If you have obtained tickets in non-accessible seating and require the accessible features of these seating sections, call 201-559-1515 to make arrangements for accessible seating in advance of the event. If you have obtained seating in an accessible section and do not require the features of this type of seating, call 201-559-1515 to exchange your seating into a non-accessible section based on availability.

Ticket will-call: Ticketmaster will-call is available at any open ticket window. Guests who are picking up tickets at will-call will need picture ID, their confirmation number and the credit card with which the tickets were purchased in order to pick up the tickets. For select events, specialty will-call may vary. Please see the nearest team member for details.

Carry-in policy

Guests are welcome to carry-in the following items into MetLife Stadium:

Clear bags that are 12-by-6-by-12 inches or less in size (1 bag per person)

Small purses/handbags (clutch-type bags) that are 4.5-by-6.5 inches or less in size (1 per person)

Food of any kind that is contained in a clear plastic bag

Factory-sealed, plastic bottles of water or soft drinks that are 20 ounces or less in size (caps will be removed by Safety Services team members)

Reusable water bottles (both plastic and aluminum). Bottles must be empty upon entry.

Still-photography cameras with a lens that is 6 inches or less in length not contained in a case

Hand-carried jackets, blankets or other items, which will be patted down or searched

Official national flags that can reasonably be hand-held by a single person and do not obstruct the view of other guests (no sticks or poles)

Small handheld portable phone chargers

All bags and other permissible items will be subject to multiple screenings prior to entering MetLife Stadium.

The following items are not permitted to be carried into MetLife Stadium:

Any type of non-clear bag exceeding 4.5-by-6.5 inches in size including purses/handbags, camera or binocular cases, backpacks, fanny packs, diaper bags, and briefcases/computer bags

Battery operated clothing (socks, jackets, etc.)

Seat cushions of any size except those for medical needs

Glass bottles, cans, coolers of any kind, thermoses or ice chests

Alcohol of any kind

Banners and signs of any size (unless otherwise noted on individual event page)

Flags that are not the official flag of a country, ones that are displayed on a stick or a pole or cannot reasonably be hand-held by a single person

Umbrellas, strollers, laser pointers, and balls of any kind including full-sized footballs

Drones

Single purpose video cameras or still-photography cameras with a lens longer than 6 inches

Weapons, including firearms, knives and any item that may be used as a projectile or one that is deemed dangerous by Stadium management

Any animal with the exception of a service animal

Adult-sized football helmets with facemasks

Any other item deemed inappropriate by Stadium management

Search procedures

To ensure the highest level of safety and security, all guests will be subject to a courteous screening by Safety Services team members prior to entering the Stadium. All vehicles are subject to inspection prior to entering the MetLife Sports Complex, and all bags will be inspected prior to entering the Stadium.

Sensory inclusion

MetLife Stadium has partnered with Kulture City in an effort to provide a more inclusive and comfortable experience for our guests with sensory processing needs. Our team members are trained and certified to recognize opportunities to assist these guests in their enjoyment of our events. We also offer sensory bags containing noise-cancelling headphones brought to you by Bose, fidget toys and weighted lap pads among other resources for checkout at any Guest Service Booth or Concierge Desk located through the Stadium. Contact our Guest Services Department at 201-559-1515 for more information.

Reverse ATMs

MetLife Stadium is now a cash-free venue for all concession and retail locations. Cash is not accepted at concession stands or retail locations. For guests who bring cash to the stadium, reverse ATMs are available onsite to load cash onto a prepaid Visa debit card valid for in-stadium purchases. This service is free of charge to guests. The Visa debit card has no expiration date and can be used anywhere a Visa debit card is accepted. Reverse ATMs are located in MetLife West Hall and sections 117, 128, 149, 220a, 245a, 304, 322, 334 and 347.

Additional event info

Stadium Social Links: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Website: metlifestadium.com

Stadium Map: metlifestadium.com/stadium/seating-and-maps/seating-maps

Guest Services Hotline: 201-559-1515

Guest Text Messaging Service: Guests who wish to report issues or concerns, ask for information or call for assistance can do so by texting our GuestASSIST text message service. Guests should address the text message to 78247, type the word MLS followed by a space, the request issue and location. Stadium personnel will respond quickly and accordingly.

Visit the MetLife Stadium A-Z Guide at metlifestadium.com/guest-services/a-z-guide for more information.

Taylor Swift Eras Tour setlist

• Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince

• Cruel Summer

• The Man

• You Need to Calm Down

• Lover

• The Archer

• Fearless

• You Belong With Me

• Love Story

• Tis the Damn Season

• Willow

• Marjorie

• Champagne Problems

• Tolerate It

• Ready For It?

• Delicate

• Don't Blame Me

• Look What You Made Me Do

• Enchanted

• 22

• We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

• I Knew You Were Trouble

• All Too Well (10-Minute Version)

• The 1

• Betty

• The Last Great American Dynasty

• August

• Illicit Affairs

• My Tears Ricochet

• Cardigan

• Style

• Blank Space

• Shake it Off

• Wildest Dreams

• Bad Blood

• Surprise song

• Surprise song

• Lavender Haze

• Anti-Hero

• Midnight Rain

• Vigilante (Blank)

• Bejeweled

• Mastermind

• Karma

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Taylor Swift Eras Tour at MetLife: Everything you need to know