Toronto ‘ready’ to host Taylor Swift concerts

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When it comes to preparedness for next month’s Taylor Swift’s six shows at Rogers Centre, the City of Toronto wants everyone to know: ‘They are ready for it.’

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Toronto Deputy Police Chief Lauren Pogue said law enforcement are “fully prepared to respond to any potential risk” with 500,000 visitors expected from outside Toronto for her Eras Tour concerts, which are scheduled for Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 and the following week from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23.

“Public safety is our top priority,” Pogue said.

An upwards of 300,000 concertgoers are expected to attend the six shows, with tens of thousands more descending on the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where the fan event Taylgate ’24 is happening next door. Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors games at nearby Scotiabank Arena during the nights Swift is playing could add close to 20,000 more people downtown. 

Pogue reiterated that Toronto Police “are ready” to deal with the influx of people to the city’s core, which is already mired by traffic congestion and construction.

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In August, Austrian authorities made several arrests in connection with a plot to “kill as many people as possible” attending Swift’s shows at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.

The thwarted attack ultimately led to Swift cancelling three sold-out Eras Tour shows, devastating fans who had travelled from across the world to see the concerts.

“Our considerations are always around public safety. There are no threats at this time,” Pogue said. “You can expect to see a significant and visible police presence throughout the concert week, including a significant number of officers deployed both inside and outside the venue to ensure the safety of all attendees and to assist wherever needed.”

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Unlike other stops on her Eras Tour in which tens of thousands have gathered outside in hopes of hearing her music, Swifties without tickets are being urged to stay home as there will be no designated fan zone.

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Pogue wouldn’t get into specifics, but said that Toronto Police have “robust systems in place to detect, assess, and respond to any emerging threats.”

There will be significant road closures surrounding Rogers Centre impacting Lake Shore Blvd. W. to the south, York St. to the east, Spadina Ave. to the west and Wellington St. W. to the north on the days of the shows. Organizers are urging attendees to take the TTC, walk or cycle.

Drop-off zones will be located a good walk away from the stadium on Front St West, Lake Shore and Queens Quay E.

Toronto has been learning from past cities Swift has played in and planned work that requires a road occupation permit — such as construction, filming and utility cuts — will not be allowed on concert dates.  

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To help ferry fans in and out of the downtown core, the TTC will ramp up service on show nights with additional trains on lines 1 and 2, buses and streetcars.  

Although Swift is the first musical artist to perform six nights at the Rogers Centre during one tour, city officials pointed to past events like the Pope’s 2002 visit, the Raptors’ 2019 championship parade and the 2015 Pan-Am Games as proof that her concerts will run smoothly.

Earlier this month, Destination Toronto, a non-profit that supports the city’s tourism industry, said Swift’s shows could have a $282-million impact on the local economy, with $152 million of that money coming in the form of direct spending. An estimated 93% of that amount — $141 million — will come from out-of-towners visiting local restaurants, hotels and shops, with the remaining $11 million coming from Torontonians.

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The concerts are happening during a quieter season, so that will also give a boost to the hotel and hospitality industry.

“This is a lot of visitors, at half a million,” said Pat Tobin, general manager of economic development and culture at the City of Toronto. “They are each projected to spend a lot of money. The evidence coming out of other cities (she has played in) is the per-capita spending for concertgoers is about $1,300 … so Swifties spend a lot and they’re coming from outside, so it’s new money into our economy.”

But with hotel rooms near the Rogers Centre during Swift’s shows being advertised for around $2,000 per night, some wondered if accommodations are too expensive. 

Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik said “this is something that happens when major events are coming to the city, there will be a rise in the cost of things like hotel rooms.”

Malik said the city is trying to ensure there are options “around transit and transportation” that will help visitors staying in properties outside of the downtown core.

Toronto is only one of two Canadian cities Swift is visiting on her record-breaking tour, which began last year in Arizona. The Eras Tour ends in Vancouver in December.

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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