Liverpool is about to become a Taylor Swift “playground” for two weeks as the city prepares to welcome the US megastar. More than 150,000 fans will flock to the location for Swift’s three sold-out shows at Anfield football stadium next month. Dubbed Taylor Town, the city is rolling out the red carpet for the artist in an effort to secure a slice of the expected £1bn earnings from the superstar’s UK concerts. Liverpool council’s dedicated Taylor Town taskforce has been working for nearly a year to prepare 11 Instagram-friendly art installations in the city, symbolising each of her 11 albums.
The installations include a £300 baby grand piano, purchased from Facebook Marketplace by Make CIC, a local social enterprise, and decorated with living moss to represent Swift’s Evermore “era”. Fans can also pose for photos on a supersized gold throne wrapped in snakes and skulls, marking her Reputation album which was inspired by Game of Thrones. The University of Liverpool is offering its own Taylor contribution by holding a free day of lectures dedicated to the pop star.
The city hopes the efforts will replicate the energy and excitement that came with the Eurovision Song Contest it hosted recently, although some think these preparations border on madness. Claire McColgan, Liverpool’s director of culture, spoke about the idea of “turning the whole city into an experience”. While Swift’s concerts are expected to bring a welcome economic boost to the city, officials have also joked that Anfield, a stadium known for its enthusiastic fans, will be monitored carefully for small seismic events.
Swift is playing only 15 nights across four UK cities – Liverpool, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and London – and tickets, ranging from £562 to £4,723 for one non-VIP seat at one of her eight Wembley shows, are trading hands online for as much as £3,600 each for a child’s ticket. A study by Barclays suggests that the 34-year-old singer-songwriter will give a significant boost to the UK economy, with the average fan expected to shell out £848 for tickets, merchandise, food, and accommodation.
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