My experience at the Taylor Swift concert – The Eras Tour

Whether you’re a Taylor Swift groupie or not, it’s virtually impossible not to have heard about The Eras Tour. Tickets for the singer’s concerts sold out worldwide in minutes, without even launching a general sale. A unique code was required to access the sale after a draw with no guarantee of a ticket. In Canada, members of the Avion Rewards program could register for an additional chance to obtain a code to access the sale.

If, like me, you weren’t lucky enough to get your tickets for one of the singer’s concerts in Toronto or Vancouver, all is not lost! I’m not a real “Swiftie”, but being a passionate fan of musical shows, the hype surrounding this record-breaking tour made me want to experience The Eras Tour, and here’s how I did it.

After touring across the USA, Australia and Asia, The Eras Tour is in Europe for the summer, and this is probably your best chance to see Taylor Swift at the best price. Ticket prices are skyrocketing on the resale market for the final dates of the tour, which ends in Vancouver on December 8.

If you absolutely do not want to miss your chance, I recommend that you start by looking at the list of the remaining dates of the European tour and make your choice according to the city you are most interested in visiting:

To get tickets, it’s best to plan ahead, but the last-minute strategy can also pay off. As you can see, Taylor Swift usually stays several nights in the same city, which multiplies your chances of getting tickets for one of the concerts. If you opt for the last-minute option, it’s best to stay in the chosen city for the entire concert period, to maximize your chances if you haven’t found a ticket for the first evening.

To buy your tickets, I advise you to visit the official local box office (usually the Ticketmaster site in the country version, but this is not always the case in some countries, such as Switzerland), as tickets may be released a few days before or even on the day of the performance. It is also possible on these same sites to buy verified and certified tickets resold by certain fans. This option is preferable because the tickets are guaranteed by the box office and, above all, they are resold at the original sale price.

For example, FanSale, the ticket resale site of the official Swiss platform TicketCorner, is offering tickets on the pitch at the time of writing. For Ticketmaster, resale tickets can be found directly on the Ticketmaster website on the event page. New places may appear at any time, so check back regularly.

Finally, you can find tickets on resale sites such as Stubhub International. This is not the most recommended option, as tickets are not certified, but Stubhub offers a Fan Protect guarantee.

You can also try your luck at winning tickets in the Marriott Bonvoy competition. The Avion Rewards competition ended on June 16.

Here are some examples of hotels in London accessible with Marriott Bonvoy points where Taylor Swift will be performing for 5 nights. This is your chance to take advantage of the 5 nights for the price of 4 promotion with Marriott Bonvoy points.

Here’s an example of flying with Aeroplan points during the London concert season. It may also be worth keeping an eye on Flying Blue Promo Rewards to book flights with Miles at attractive prices.

Last May, Taylor Swift kicked off the European leg of her tour in Paris after a break of almost two months. As I had a family event in France a few days after the Paris concerts, I took the opportunity to arrive a few days before the tour resumed to maximize my chances of getting a ticket. Before going to France, I saw many tickets available on the Stubhub International website, and they were much cheaper than in Canada. The closer the concert dates got, the more new tickets became available and resale prices fell. However, in Europe, there is a “lead broker” policy, i.e. the ticket is in the name of the person who originally bought the ticket, and it was stated that the buyer had to be present when entering the venue. With this policy, it became more difficult to buy a ticket on resale.

Two days before the first Paris date at the Paris La Défense Arena, I discovered that tickets were being put back on sale on the Ticketmaster France website by fans no longer able to attend the event. In this way, I was able to obtain my ticket at the initial sale price with the certainty of having a valid ticket.

The T-shaped stage crosses most of the pit. Taylor Swift is mostly in the center (which forms a large square). If you’re able to choose your seats, I’d recommend taking a look at the configuration of the venue beforehand, as there are 4 large lighting pillars all around the stage, unfortunately not highlighted on the plans: two pillars are in the left and right corners, and the other 2 are at the right-hand corner of the T. So, if you want to make sure your view isn’t obstructed, choose seats facing the stage, as close to the center as possible, or on the sides of the center square, without being too close to the stage (as the big screen is curved, you won’t be able to see all of it). The best place to see Taylor Swift up close is in the left or right pit, but be prepared to stand for several hours before and during the concert.

Swiftie or not, I have to admit that Taylor Swift ‘s omnipresence on stage made was impressive. You can also watch the concert in the comfort of your home with Disney+. So, are you ready to experience The Eras Tour in Europe?