End of the Eras Taylor Swift's epic $2bn tour finally comes to a close
The Guardian|December 10, 2024
By now, nearly 21 months after Taylor Swift launched what would become the highest-grossing tour of all time, you could be forgiven for thinking both "wait, Taylor Swift is still on the Eras Tour?" or that the globe-spanning, headline-dominating, literally seismic show would go on forever.
Adrian Horton
End of the Eras Taylor Swift's epic $2bn tour finally comes to a close

After all, the Eras era has spanned an epoch, at least in ever-quickening internet time. But after 149 shows, 10-plus million fans and several pop cultural takeovers, the Eras tour reached the end of its road in fittingly rainy Vancouver, having become the highest-grossing tour of all time at more than $2bn (£1.6bn).

Not that you would know it from downtown, which - like every city before it in the US, Australia, Asia, Europe and finally Canada - morphed into a temporary mecca for hundreds of thousands of sequined, jubilant Swifties.

Much has been said about how the Eras tour became its own two-year economic stimulus, but it is still staggering to witness Swiftonomics in person. According to the unscientific estimate of a US border agent who asked me how Taylor was before even looking at my passport, "99.5%" of vehicles crossing between the US and Canada this weekend were heading to and from the three shows. Light-up lyrics adorned the streets leading to BC Place; you could not go to a Starbucks in town without seeing women in Eras tour merchandise.

"The energy is just... I think everybody is feeling it," said Maline Davis, 27, of St Louis, Missouri, at a loss for words over the last show. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I just don't know that this will happen again."

Denne historien er fra December 10, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 10, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIANSe alt
In Wimborne Minster's panto no one can hear you scream
The Guardian

In Wimborne Minster's panto no one can hear you scream

For anyone weary of the usual feel-good festive films - Love Actually, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street and so on - a joyfully amateur retelling of the classic space horror Alien by Dorset bus drivers may just appeal.

time-read
1 min  |
December 12, 2024
'Ultimate superficiality': experts cast doubt on tech that could soften the blow of grumpy texts
The Guardian

'Ultimate superficiality': experts cast doubt on tech that could soften the blow of grumpy texts

Is that you? Or is it the bot? Linguists have said the nuance and character of human language are at risk, as Apple becomes the latest tech firm to launch artificial intelligence tools that can rewrite texts and emails to make users sound more friendly or professional.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 12, 2024
The Guardian

Puberty blockers for gender dysphoria banned indefinitely

Puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria will be banned indefinitely across the UK except for use in clinical trials, the government has announced.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 12, 2024
Human rights warnings after Fifa awards 2034 World Cup to Saudis
The Guardian

Human rights warnings after Fifa awards 2034 World Cup to Saudis

Fifa set the seal on one of the most controversial decisions in its history yesterday by confirming Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 12, 2024
'A daily living hell' Sara Sharif's father and stepmother guilty of her murder
The Guardian

'A daily living hell' Sara Sharif's father and stepmother guilty of her murder

Sara Sharif's father and stepmother have been found guilty of her murder, as questions were raised over missed opportunities to save the 10-year-old.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 12, 2024
Syrian rebel leader vows to pursue torturers
The Guardian

Syrian rebel leader vows to pursue torturers

The Islamist rebel commander responsible for the downfall of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has said that those responsible for torture and killing in the notorious prisons system will not evade justice after the extent of the regime's crimes against its own people in detention centres was revealed.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 12, 2024
The Guardian

Ministers to axe more than 10,000 civil service jobs in budgets purge

Ministers are to cut more than 10,000 civil service jobs as Whitehall departments battle to stay within spending limits under a new government efficiency drive, the Guardian has learned.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 12, 2024
The Guardian

Saudi storm FA warned to avoid protest unless boycotting World Cup

The Football Association board has been warned by voices in internal discussions to avoid protesting at today's meeting that will confirm Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 men's World Cup, unless it is willing to boycott the tournament.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 11, 2024
The Guardian

ECB ready to extend KP's controversial Hundred deal

Exclusive

time-read
1 min  |
December 11, 2024
Villa ride luck after Barkley's winner sinks spirited Leipzig
The Guardian

Villa ride luck after Barkley's winner sinks spirited Leipzig

After Jhon Durán scored, another ludicrously powerful strike within seven minutes of entering the field, he celebrated by showing the Aston Villa supporters the palms of his hands, as if to say, calm down, what else did you possibly expect?

time-read
3 mins  |
December 11, 2024