Current:Home > reviewsTaylor Swift fans wait in 90-degree temperatures for doors to open in Madrid -Intelligent Capital Compass
Taylor Swift fans wait in 90-degree temperatures for doors to open in Madrid
View
Date:2025-04-25 23:06:59
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! (45)
Related
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Cinnamon in recalled applesauce pouches may have had 2,000 times the proposed limit of lead
- Still shopping for the little ones? Here are 10 kids' books we loved this year
- 15 Celeb-Approved White Elephant Gifts Under $30 From Amazon That Will Steal The Show
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- No fire plans, keys left out and no clean laundry. Troubled South Carolina jail fails inspection
- IRS to waive $1 billion in penalties for millions of taxpayers. Here's who qualifies.
- 'Thank you for being my friend': The pure joy that was NBA Hall of Famer Dražen Petrović
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Choking smog lands Sarajevo at top of Swiss index of most polluted cities for 2nd straight day
Ranking
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Choking smog lands Sarajevo at top of Swiss index of most polluted cities for 2nd straight day
- America’s animal shelters are overcrowded with pets from families facing economic and housing woes
- Homicide victim found dead in 1979 near Las Vegas Strip ID’d as missing 19-year-old from Cincinnati
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- The French parliament approves a divisive immigration bill, prompting a heated debate
- Parents of children sickened by lead linked to tainted fruit pouches fear for kids’ future
- Will Chick-fil-A open on Sunday? New bill would make it required at New York rest stops.
Recommendation
The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
Argentina’s president warned of a tough response to protests. He’s about to face the first one
Horoscopes Today, December 19, 2023
Why Charles Melton Says Riverdale Truly Was My Juilliard
The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
Minnesota has a new state flag: See the design crafted by a resident
Xfinity hack affects nearly 36 million customers. Here's what to know.
Rite Aid covert surveillance program falsely ID'd customers as shoplifters, FTC says