Ticketmaster crashed when presale tickets went on sale for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in November, and fans have been waiting for the tour since then. It took me about seven hours to get a ticket after the crash, logging back in and trying (and failing) multiple times. Unbelievable! Midwest fans splurge $4750 on Taylor Swift’s eras tour, leaving many people amazed and intrigued. Let’s delve into the details and explore the reasons behind this unbelievable fan frenzy.
As a result, I managed to get tickets for myself and two friends – about $187 with fees for nosebleed seats. But in a wild turn of events, my friends’ dad got them VIP seats in the lower bowl and included a ticket for me as well.
As a woman of the people, I sold my ticket for the exact amount I paid – only to find out my friends’ dad wouldn’t let me pay him without making a profit. So I am attending my first ever Taylor Swift concert for free.
This is the first concert I’ve attended where I feel I need to exchange themed outfits, accessories, and friendship bracelets with other fans – and previous stops on the tour suggest most fans feel the same way. I got thinking about how much people spend on Taylor Swift tickets after seeing the exorbitant Ticketmaster wait times and fees, as well as the even more expensive resale tickets and the creative ways Swifties put outfits together.
Five people attending Taylor Swift’s Kansas City Eras tour have revealed how much it cost them.
To begin with, I thought it only right that I be transparent about my costs:
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Savannah Hawley-Bates
Where do you live? Missouri’s capital city is Kansas City.
What do you do for a living? Swiftie by night, reporter by day
What age are you?24
When did you become a Swiftie? Favourite album from the last 17 years? Speak Now and Forever Favourite Song? Enchanted, The Lucky One, and endure it are all tied for first place.
What do you think the surprise songs will be? Long live and, to cut a long tale short,
Total cost of the concert: $76.50 Outfit: $66.50
Accommodations and Travel: $0 for lodging and transportation
Bracelets: $10
Ticket cost: $0
Number of Taylor Swift concerts before the Kansas City shows: 0, this will be the first
Most outrageous cost: The fact that I was fortunate enough not to have to pay for a ticket was the most bizarre expenditure.
Maggie Stoltenberg
Where do you call home? Leicester, Nebraska
What kind of work do you do? beginner instructor
What age are you? 22
When did you become a Swiftie? Favourite Album for 17 Years?
Favourite song ever? where you left me, exactly
What songs do you anticipate being the surprises? the same place you left me, Final kiss
Concert total: $1,200 spent on the concert
Outfit: $150 for two outfits in total.
Accommodations and Travel: Thanks to her parents, she stayed in a flat, then a hotel in St. Joseph. She expects to spend roughly $50 on petrol and an additional $20 on an Uber to get her home from the show.
Jewellery: $200
Cost of tickets: $350 on Friday, $500 on Saturday with upgrades.
Number of Taylor Swift concerts before the Kansas City shows: Four, this will be her fifth and sixth.
Most outrageous cost: $200 for all supplies needed to make friendship bracelets.
Details:
She’s been a Swiftie since she was a child, when her mother played Debut in her car as she drove to school. She’s seen Swift’s Red, 1989 and Reputation tours. She upgraded her Saturday seats, which she’s attending with her mom, to move down from the nosebleeds for this one. Stoltenberg was sure to get tickets to both nights for this one.
During the Eras tour, fans have been making and sharing friendship bracelets, inspired by the song “You’re On Your Own, Kid.”
Her original plan was to make a few dozen bracelets, but she ended up making over 225 bracelets out of embroidery floss and beads.
“I’m sad to see them go, but I’m happy I’ll be giving them to Swifties since I know they’ll appreciate them,” Stoltenberg said.
Each night, Stoltenberg wears a different outfit. She hopes her purple Speak Now replica dress or sparkly fringe will get Swift’s attention.
Karina A.
What city do you live in? Kansas City
What do you do for work? Student and multiple jobs
What is your age? 23.
How long have you been a Swiftie? I’ve been a Swiftie for 17 years.
Favourite Album? Fearless’
Favourite song? All you had to do was stay.
What do you hope the surprise songs will be? Back-to-back On Friday, Speak Now songs and everything from Fearless will be played.
Total cost of the concert: $4,750
Outfit: $200 for all clothing and accessories
Lodging and transportation: $1,500 for the previous shows she’s attended.
Bracelets: $50
Ticket price: $900 for both performances this weekend, however she’ll spend $3,000 overall for the six Swift concerts she’ll see this year.
Number of Taylor Swift concerts before the Kansas City shows: Eight, including four this year alone. This weekend’s concerts will be her fifth and sixth of the year.
The most outrageous expense: Uber rides to and from events.
Details:
Having gotten a front row, barricade seat to the Reputation tour (where she got a front row, barricade seat), Karina, a SuperSwiftie who didn’t want her last name used, has been saving up for the Eras tour since 2018. On the Eras tour alone, Karina will be seeing Swift for the fifth and sixth time. She’s also seen Swift in Glendale, Arizona, Nashville, Tennessee, and Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Karina said that she had a separate savings account and a piggy bank in which she collected coins and cash. Once the tour dates were announced, she cashed in the piggy bank and put the money in her account. I’ve worked a full-time job and picked up side gigs to help pay for my expensive hobby.
Karina says she gets her money’s worth at every Swift concert, no matter where she sits. She says she’s planning to get to the shows early this weekend to trade bracelets and meet new people.
Her most surprising expense has been Uber rides to and from the concerts. It’s harder to plan for Uber surge pricing than to buy Eras tickets.
Morgan Shandler
Where do you call home? Kansas City, Overland Park
What do you do for a living? The field of public relations
What age are you? 35
When did you become a Swiftie? 17 years
Favourite Album? Lover and Red
What is your favourite song? Taylor’s Version of All Too Well (10-minute version) and peace
What do you think the surprise songs will be? Cornelia Street, Superman, Dorothea, and Picture to Burn are a few examples.
Concert expenses: $770
Clothing: $150
Staying put and getting around: The amount that will be charged for an Uber to and from the concert
Jewelry: $0
Ticket cost: After selling her two upper-level tickets at $150 each for $350, she paid $550 for a premium seat.
A number of Taylor Swift concerts before the Kansas City shows: Taylor Swift performed at four other concerts; this will be her fifth.
Morgan ShandlerThe craziest cost: The passes
Details:
She bought two tickets through the Capitol One presale, but a friend with a Chiefs’ season ticket was able to get five premium tickets for her whole group.
She’s seen Swift on her Fearless, Red, 1989, and Reputation tours, but this time is different. This time, Morgan and her best friend (with whom she has been to almost every concert) have kids.
“As moms, we feel kind of grown up,” Morgan said. I feel nostalgic listening to some of the songs we listen to. I remember getting ready and listening to songs in college, and now I enjoy singing songs with my kids. After becoming a mom, a lot of the deeper songs have impacted me in a different way.”
In preparation for the Eras show, she has chosen a captivating ensemble adorned with dazzling sequins and shimmering body glitter. To add a touch of elegance and create an enticing atmosphere, she has acquired a collection of blue gin and a medley of mixers, investing $70 to concoct the exquisite Lavender Haze cocktails before embarking on her night out.
Annie Wells
Where do you call home? Iowa’s capital city is Des Moines.
What do you do for a living? By day, I’m a corporate copywriter; by night, I’m a slam poet.
What age are you? 24
When did you become a Swiftie? Favourite album from the last 17 years? Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Favourite Song? the lakes, as well as Forever and Always
What do you think the surprise songs will be? Something from Better Than Revenge: Speak Now
Wells only paid approximately $75 for the concert since her aunt gave her the tickets and hotel.
Outfit: $31 dress from Amazon, $7 box of two purple bows
Lodging and transportation: A one-night stay at the Hilton downtown costs $217, plus roughly $30 for petrol.
Jewellery: $35
Ticket price: $273 for the ticket.
Number of Taylor Swift concerts before the Kansas City shows: Taylor Swift has never performed live; this will be her first
Most outrageous cost: Getting to and from the performance
Details:
She and her friend, Moira, were given tickets for Wells’ birthday by her aunt, who is also a Swiftie.
Having moved to Des Moines from Iowa State in 2017, Wells has tried presale codes for Chicago, Minneapolis, and Kansas City. After spending about seven hours in line with Ticketmaster, she and Moira, who became friends because of Taylor Swift, managed to get lower bowl seats.
“We do everything together,” Wells said. “She is my best friend and she loves Taylor Swift too.”
Their first Taylor Swift concert is on Friday, and they did a “Speak Now” road trip to be ready: The two turned around midway through a song while listening to the record, which will be released again on Friday. They travelled roughly 40 kilometres in total while listening to the 67-minute CD.
Rolle, Shannon
Where do you call home? Kansas City, North
What kind of work do you do? Russell Stover Chocolates’ brand manager by day, trivia presenter at night
What age are you? 33
When did you become a Swiftie? 17 years
Favourite album? evermore
Favourite song? Poor Blood
What do you think the surprise songs will be? Total for Cornelia Street and Long Live
Concert expenses: $370
Outfits: $150
Transportation and lodging: parking at Arrowhead costs about $50.
Jewellery: $40
Ticket price: $130 for the ticket.
Number of Taylor Swift concerts before the Kansas City shows: On the 1989 tour, Taylor Swift performed at one more concert before the Kansas City performances.
Most outrageous cost: She believes it will be goods or tickets.
Details:
Shannon and her pals endured a marathon of more than nine hours in the Ticketmaster queue on a Thursday morning in the middle of the busy merchandising queue, eventually winning the treasured possession of their long-awaited tickets. It’s interesting to note that the buddy who was initially charged with buying the tickets didn’t have a strong affection for Swift. Shannon, on the other hand, kindly provided her with the chance to lose herself in Swift’s alluring melodies, which led to a dramatic metamorphosis and her emergence as a dedicated Swiftie.
It was Swift’s 1989 tour in Kansas City in 2015 that convinced Shannon to move to the city. She expects this show to be just as life-changing.
She said she is excited to see her live again and to feel the energy of the crowd. Everyone is just so happy and excited and I know the concert is beautiful and incredible, so I’m just looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime experience with my Swiftie friend who is now a Swiftie.”
On Wednesdays, Shannon also organises a trivia night at Bar K. She gave out friendship bracelets to guests at a trivia night with a Taylor Swift theme that attracted over 60 teams. She figures she will have roughly 30 more items to exchange during the event.
