Current:Home > MarketsTaylor Swift fans wait in 90-degree temperatures for doors to open in Madrid -Core Financial Strategies
Taylor Swift fans wait in 90-degree temperatures for doors to open in Madrid
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:53:20
MADRID — Temperatures in the mid-90s beat down on Taylor Swift fans waiting hours ahead of doors opening to her first night of the Eras Tour in the city. Luckily for many in line, the stadium's curvy upper lip provided shade.
"We've been here more than 24 hours," says Belen Falla, who sat at the very front of the VIP line in a purple "Speak Now" dress with butterfly wings. "I'm coming from Peru, and this is my dream. I've always dreamed of coming half my life to see Taylor Swift."
Falla brought a blanket to sit on, an umbrella to provide shade and friendship bracelets to trade.
"The shade is so nice," she says. "I've seen a lot of people pass out at concerts. I think we're quite lucky."
Behind Falla, Sofia Lopez wore a "Folklore" inspired green dress.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
"I am worried about the heat," Lopez says. "I brought a lot of gummies for the sugar to give me fuel. I've drank water this whole morning, and I'm going to try and finish before 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. so that I'm hydrated and then I'll just go to the bathroom before going in."
The Last Tour is the company tasked as the event producer for Madrid. Its website said opening act Paramore will take the stage at 6:45 p.m. with Swift performing at 8 p.m. Security on-site said portable chargers are not allowed inside. With the heat, fans can bring in a plastic bottle 50 cL's or less. There are a list of forbidden items on the Last Tour website.
Hayley Groff came from Washington, D.C., with her sister. You could see her custom friendship bracelet jacket shine in screaming color.
"It is every single song beaded in the different eras," she says, spinning around to show the hard work that took weeks. "I love friendship bracelets. 'You're On Your Own Kid' is my favorite song. I feel like she wrote it for me."
"Last night at dinner we had a family debate," her sister, Stephanie, chimes in. "I'm the planner, and I mentioned it was going to be in the 90s. I definitely want us to be safe. Somehow I convinced her to go with shorts."
Stephanie's bag contained water bottles and sunscreen among Swift merchandise.
"Health comes first," Stephanie says. "That's why I'm happy there's two of us, because if one needs to use the bathroom, the other can stay put and so on."
Swift sold out two nights at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home of the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. She announced a second performance at the beginning of the year after Spanish Swifties pushed for an additional night. More than 450,000 requests to obtain a ticket flooded the Ticketmaster system last summer. The Santiago Bernabéu stadium sold 85,000 tickets each night, according to Seat Pick.
Madrid is nicknamed "el foro," which means the forum or a place where matters of economic, political and historical significance are discussed. Swift's tour has an interest in all three of those sectors. Swift will head next to Lyon, France, and perform on Sunday and Monday.
Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.
Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
veryGood! (6956)
Related
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- US Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey is resigning from office following his corruption conviction
- Blake Lively Channels Husband Ryan Reynolds During Rare Red Carpet Date Night at Deadpool Premiere
- Woman gets probation for calling in hoax bomb threat at Boston Children’s Hospital
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- U.S. sprinter McKenzie Long runs from grief toward Olympic dream
- Miss Kansas Alexis Smith Calls Out Her Alleged Abuser Onstage in Viral Video
- Keanu Reeves explains why it's good that he's 'thinking about death all the time'
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Dubai Princess Shares Photo With 2-Month-Old Daughter After Shocking Divorce
Ranking
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Body camera video shows Illinois deputy fatally shooting Sonya Massey inside her home
- Beach Volleyball’s Miles Evans Reveals What He Eats in a Day Ahead of Paris Olympics
- Olympic swimmers will be diving into the (dirty) Seine. Would you do it?
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Mark Carnevale, former PGA Tour winner and golf broadcaster, dies a week after working his last tournament
- Safeguarding the heartbeat: Native Americans in Upper Midwest protect their drumming tradition
- Blake Lively and Gigi Hadid Are Simply the Perfect Match With Deadpool & Wolverine After-Party Looks
Recommendation
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
With US vehicle prices averaging near $50K, General Motors sees 2nd-quarter profits rise 15%
Who could Kamala Harris pick as her VP? Here are 10 potential running mates
Keanu Reeves explains why it's good that he's 'thinking about death all the time'
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
USA TODAY Sports Network's Big Ten football preseason media poll
US opens investigation into Delta after global tech meltdown leads to massive cancellations
Bryson DeChambeau to host Donald Trump on podcast, says it's 'about golf' and 'not politics'