Writer: Eleana Teran and Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read May 2023 — Taylor Swift’s record-breaking 52-night, 20-city tour across the country is making waves beyond the music industry, creating a significant impact in local economies.
With soaring attendance numbers, the show has the potential to become one of the highest-grossing tours in history. Beyond the music, the concerts have sparked the emergence of a “Swifty economy” as fans eagerly invest in travel, lodging, makeup, fashion and food to be part of the experience. Boston is the latest destination for the singer-songwriter with three shows slated over the weekend.
According to Axios, Swift’s tour has had a profound impact on the cities it has visited. Glendale, the tour’s first stop, went as far as temporarily renaming itself “Swift City,” with fans from all over the country flocking to the area causing hotel rates to skyrocket. Similarly, during the tour, Houston experienced a surge in hotel occupancy, resulting in the city’s highest hotel revenue week of 2023 and surpassing the rates seen during the NCAA men’s Final Four. Meanwhile, in Nashville, numerous bars, restaurants, and even the Country Music Hall of Fame capitalized on Swift’s presence in the city by organizing special Swift-themed events to attract fans.
WELL. We had our first rain show of The Eras Tour. And it was SO MUCH FUN. The dancers, band, crowd and I all pretty much turned into little kids joyfully jumping in puddles all night. I wanted to thank the crowd again for waiting for the weather to clear. And my amazing crew for… pic.twitter.com/OqdtiQaGhU
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 9, 2023
In Boston, hotels surrounding Gillette Stadium and Patriots Place have been fully booked, Axios Boston reported. Meanwhile, Airbnb rentals have been listed for over $1,000 per night. The city and region have made accommodations for the influx of visitors by releasing additional $20 round-trip tickets for special trains running for the concerts on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Boston Business Journal, “The MBTA released a second set of 3,230 additional tickets through its app. The Boston train tickets sold out in less than 90 seconds and the app reached a peak of 20,000 requests per minute to purchase these tickets, according to the MBTA.”
In Philly, hotels in Center City forecasted an occupancy increase. The Courtyard by Marriott in South Philly, located near the Lincoln Financial Field, was completely booked for the weekend, while other hotels in the area were at near capacity.
To fully embrace the excitement surrounding the event, local restaurants in Boston and Philly have seized the opportunity by hosting special events and offering Swift-themed menu items throughout the weekend. It wasn’t just about the food; businesses in the area took advantage of the influx of visitors by organizing dance parties, serving themed cocktails and implementing engaging activities. These strategic activations allowed the local establishments to make the most of the increased foot traffic and capitalize on the energy brought by Taylor Swift’s concert.
