With Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ tickets one of the hottest items of the year, thousands of fans who didn’t survive Ticketmaster’s “Great War” have descended upon stadiums across the country hoping to hear a snippet of the pop star’s more than three-hour set from outside.
“While we appreciate the enthusiasm of Taylor Swift’s fans, there are no authorized external standing or sitting areas and request that fans only come to Levi’s Stadium if they have a ticket,” Santa Clara Police Department Lt. Cuong Phan said in a statement. “We have seen thousands of fans come to other stadiums across the country, in hopes to enjoy the concert from outside the stadium. When this happens, the large crowds significantly impact traffic. This impacts the Taylor Swift concert experience for all fans.”
Then Thursday evening, Levi’s Stadium added what appeared to be another no-no on Twitter Thursday night — for those with tickets — that set off shock among Swifties: “Bracelets are not permitted in the stadium.”
Hello. Bracelets are not permitted in the stadium.
— Levi’s® Stadium (@LevisStadium) July 20, 2023
Levi’s Stadium quickly reversed its policy Friday morning following intense backlash, stating that “friendship bracelets will be permitted at Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concerts at Levi’s Stadium. We are enchanted to see you one week from today.” No immediate explanation was given for the policy change.
Fans at shows across the country have been making Swift-themed friendship bracelets to trade with others, some bringing hundreds to swap. The idea comes from a lyric in Swift’s song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” off her 2022 album “Midnights.”
Before the bracelet ban was reversed, it started a revolt on Twitter Thursday night. Jewelry isn’t on the list of prohibited items, prompting everything from puzzled responses to flat-out outrage from Swifites who called on everyone from President Joe Biden to Gov. Gavin Newsom to Swift herself to intervene.
Tasman Drive, the road that runs in front of Levi’s Stadium, will be closed to the public between Great America Parkway and Lick Mill Boulevard starting the morning of July 28 and will reopen on July 30. Phan said pedestrians will not be allowed on that road to ensure that it is clear for emergency vehicles and stadium operations.
The Santa Clara Police Department will be taking an “educational approach” to its enforcement, according to Phan, by asking ticketless fans to stay home with the goal of gaining “their cooperation.”
A Levi’s Stadium spokesperson said they plan on enhanced security measures for the concert, and fans without tickets will be barred from entering the stadium parking lot. Tailgating also won’t be allowed before the show for ticketed fans. Both of the shows are sold out.
The news comes as a shock to some ticketless Swifties who already made plans to listen to the concert outside.
Ali Sapirman, 25, and their friends were going to dress up in their favorite Swift era and tailgate for at least one of the nights.
“It’s honestly kind of bizarre to me in the same week that the city named Santa Clara as Swiftie Clara that they take action to disenfranchise a lot of Swifties that couldn’t experience Taylor,” Sapirman said, referring to Mayor Lisa Gillmor’s proclamation Tuesday night to rename the city for ceremonial purposes and make Swift the honorary mayor.
As fans have done in other cities, Sapirman was hoping to continue to check ticket prices on resale sites while waiting outside so that once a ticket dropped to an affordable price they could rush into the stadium. As of Thursday afternoon, the cheapest seat to see Swift in Santa Clara was listed for more than $900 on Stubhub.
But the new policy effectively dashes those hopes.
“I just don’t know logistically how that will even work,” Sapirman said of trying to score tickets halfway through the concert.
Levi’s Stadium isn’t the first venue to prohibit ticketless fans from camping outside. Earlier this month, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, told fans without tickets that they wouldn’t be allowed outside the stadium and that they had the right to check whether anyone outside had a ticket. Soldier Field in Chicago also asked fans not to show up if they didn’t have tickets.
That didn’t seem to deter ticketless Swifties, though, who at both concerts still showed up in force outside the stadium.
