Philly is still feeling the energy set in motion last weekend at The Lincoln Financial Field when Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour made its 3 day stop in the city of Swiftie love. Born in Reading, Pa, an hour outside of Philly, Swift’s hometown concerts proved to be pure magic. Glitter, pink, and the number 13 abound, the Philadelphia Eras tour was Fandom at its finest. Each night, Swift performed to a sold-out stadium of adoring fans singing the lyrics to her most iconic hits in unison. It was a defining reminder of the power of superstardom. However, Swift’s power transcends music, evident in her time back home. Here are 6 takeaways from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Philly.
1. There’s No Place Like Home
She came, she saw, she conquered! When a superstar returns home, their hometown is always expected to show up and show out and Philly did just that. Each night the Linc was completely sold out with fans praying for a miracle to score last minute tickets. What started off as a missed miracle transformed into magic proving the magnitude of the hometown Swifties. Unable to get their hands on tickets inside the stadium, thousands of Swifties took it to the parking lot. An overflow concert of sorts, Swifties danced and sang in the parking lot in unison to voice of their hometown hero. Each night the crowd grew in size prompting law enforcement to have to completely shut down streets around the stadium to optimize safety.
2. Swiftly Support Small Business
Swift ended her Eras tour in Philly by showing some love to a local business. Avenue Steaks & Pizza, located on S. Juniper St, is a fairly new business, open for roughly just under two years. Christian Palamone was working that night and couldn’t believe his ears. “One of my managers called me and she said, ‘Oh my God, we gotta make pizza for Taylor Swift!’ And I’m like, ‘What do you mean? You sure it’s for her?'” Palamone recalled.. 70 boxes of pizza later, Avenue Steaks & Pizza is grateful for the blessing bestowed upon them by Swift and the messages of support that followed from Swifties.
3. When In Philly, Eat A Cheesesteak
And then there’s this: somewhere along the Philly Eras tour, Taylor and her crew ordered 100 cheesesteaks. I mean, it doesn’t get any more Philly than that. 100 cheesesteaks!
4. Swift Is Helping Shake Off Hunger
The Superstar is helping to “Shake Off” hunger by donating to food banks across America during her Eras tour. While in Philadelphia, Swift contributed a “generous donation” to Philabundance. The organization did not disclose the exact amount but tweeted a thank you to the singer for her impact. Anti-hero where?
5. The Mom Of All Swifties
If you thought the Swifties were a force to be reckoned with, then you should meet their mommas! One local Chester county woman became an overnight viral sensation on social media due in part to the lengthy measures she took to be prepared for Swift’s concert. Maureen Gregory and her daughter were in the audience during Friday’s concert when Maureen was spotted holding on to 81 pages of lyrics she printed out to correspond with each song Swift would be performing that night while on the tour. Illuminated by only a small reading lamp to guide her on her lyrical journey, Maureen was more than ready to get her groove on and keep up with the Swifties. After going viral, she received a majority of positive feedback about her preparation and dedication.
6. Taylor Will Defend Her Fans
If the turnout from the Eras tour proves anything about superstardom, it proved that fandom is the core of it all. Taylor’s fan base is quite strong and vast for a reason. The Swifties love their icon not only because her music speaks to them but also because their icon loves them back. During her Saturday May 13 concert, Swift interrupted her performance of “Bad Blood” (how ironic) to scold a security guard who was apparently too much of a stickler towards a fan. The pop icon can be heard telling the guard “she wasn’t doing anything,” before telling him to stop. After the concert, the fan was identified as Kelly Inglis who in turn received free concert tickets. Talk about standing up for the Swifties.
The End of An Era
The tour has come and gone but the energy and magic brought to the city during it weekend tenure here has not been forgotten. Swifties traded bracelets, shut down city streets and parking lots, and came out in droves to support their star. It’s been 5 years since Swift’s last tour however, she didn’t miss a beat. If anything, the icon glistened even brighter than before showcasing exactly why she is the one and only, Taylor Swift.