**Dublin Prepares for Massive Turnout as Taylor Swift Love Story Tour Approaches**
Dublin is gearing up for an extraordinary weekend as Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated Love Story Tour arrives in the city. The sold-out Eras tour will take over the Aviva Stadium for three consecutive nights, starting this Friday. With over 150,000 fans, affectionately known as Swifties, expected to attend, this marks Swift’s return to Dublin after a six-year hiatus.
The city is not only preparing for the influx of Swifties but also for other major events happening simultaneously. Dublin will host the Pride parade, the Latitude Festival, the GAA football All-Ireland quarter-finals, and a Shania Twain concert, making it a bustling weekend for the capital.
### Extraordinary Measures for an Extraordinary Event
The scale of Taylor Swift’s concerts has prompted the Irish police, known as the Gardaí, to classify the three-day event as “extraordinary.” This designation means that officers may have their leave canceled, and special measures will be implemented to ensure adequate policing throughout the city. The cost of policing the event is expected to be similar to the €380,000 (£320,000) spent on five Garth Brooks concerts in Croke Park in 2022.
### The Economic Impact: Swiftonomics
The economic phenomenon surrounding Taylor Swift’s tours, dubbed “Swiftonomics,” is expected to bring significant financial benefits to Dublin. Tickets for Swift’s concerts in Dublin are priced at €126, comparable to the £110 tickets for her shows at London’s Wembley Stadium. The U.S. leg of the Eras tour made history by grossing over $1 billion (£792 million), and the international leg is projected to increase that figure to as much as $4 billion (£3.1 billion).
Dublin Chamber of Commerce anticipates a substantial economic boost from the tour, particularly from international tourists. Aebhric McGibney, the Chamber’s director of public and international affairs, highlighted the importance of visitors from overseas. “The real economic impact comes from those who traveled from overseas, including Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and even the United States,” he said. “The longer the person has to travel, the more time they’ll spend here.”
McGibney estimates that the 2,000 to 3,000 visitors from the U.S. alone could spend several thousand euros each during their stay. While some hotel rooms are priced at over €500 (£420) per night, more affordable options are also available.
### Local Businesses Gear Up
Businesses around the Aviva Stadium and throughout Dublin are preparing for a lucrative weekend. Many establishments are offering special events and promotions to attract Swifties. The Bridge, a popular bar near the stadium, has created a Taylor Swift-themed menu. Manager Colm Ryan noted, “We’ve designed special cocktails named after a couple of her songs, like the Lavender Haze cocktail and the Enchanted cocktail, along with frozen daiquiris.”
Dublin Pottery Studio is hosting Taylor-themed mug-making classes, which sold out within an hour. Manager Ciara Fullam explained, “We noticed every weekend, people were painting Taylor Swift themes anyway.”
### Getting to the Aviva Stadium
For those fortunate enough to secure tickets, additional public transport services will be available. Extra DART train services will run on all three nights, and 60 different bus routes from across the country will provide dedicated services to the Aviva Stadium. Translink has also announced special return train services from Northern Ireland.
Given the concurrent events in Dublin, public transport is expected to be busy. The Aviva Stadium is relatively close to the city center, so walking part of the journey may be a practical option for some attendees.
### Concert Details
The event promoter, MCD, has announced that gates to the Eras Tour will open at 17:00 local time, with early entry packages allowing some fans to enter from 15:00. The show will kick off at 18:00 with opening act Paramore, followed by Taylor Swift’s three-and-a-half-hour set starting around 19:00.
MCD has also issued guidelines for attendees, including a prohibition on briefcases, bags, luggage, or purses larger than a clutch bag. Merchandise will be available at the 3Arena in Dublin’s North Wall Quay from 10:00 on Thursday, June 27, until Sunday.
### A Weekend of Events
In addition to Taylor Swift’s concerts, Dublin will host several other major events:
– **Shania Twain at Malahide Castle** – Friday, June 28
– **Dublin Pride Parade** – Saturday, June 29
– **Longitude Festival at Marlay Park** – Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30
– **GAA Football All-Ireland Quarter Finals at Croke Park** – Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30
With so much happening, Dublin is set for an unforgettable weekend. The city is pulling out all the stops to ensure that both residents and visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Source: BBC News NI, Dublin Chamber of Commerce
