Pop megastar Taylor Swift has announced 15 new concert dates for her record-breaking Eras Tour in 2024, sending fans into a frenzy as they anxiously wait for tickets to go on sale next week.
The new shows will take place in Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Toronto in the fall of 2024. They come on the heels of Swift’s massively successful 2023 North American leg of the tour, which kicked off in March and has included multiple sold-out stadium shows.
Fans who missed out on seeing Swift perform live next year now have a second chance to score the coveted tickets. However, if the original Eras Tour ticket sale is any indication, buying tickets will be no easy feat.
When Swift first announced her 2023 tour dates back in November 2022, millions of fans flooded Ticketmaster to purchase pre-sale tickets. The site was completely overwhelmed by the demand, leading to hours-long virtual waits, error messages, and crashes. Many fans walked away empty-handed, unable to purchase tickets despite waiting for hours.
The pre-sale debacle led to widespread outrage among Swifties, with some accusing Ticketmaster of being unprepared and ill-equipped to handle the demand. Some fans even filed lawsuits against the ticketing giant.
Despite the pre-sale issues, Ticketmaster said over 2 million tickets were sold on the first day alone, breaking the company’s record for most tickets sold in a single day. When all was said and done, demand for Swift’s 2023 shows exceeded several U.S. stadiums’ entire populations.
Now, with 15 new shows added for 2024, fans know the competition for tickets will be fierce once again. Presale registration is currently open on Swift’s website, with sales beginning Tuesday, August 9th.
Swift is utilizing Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program, which requires fans to register in advance for a code to access the presale. Registering does not guarantee ticket access – codes are distributed based on factors like past purchasing history. This is aimed at getting more tickets directly into the hands of Swift’s biggest supporters and cutting down on scalpers or bots scooping up tickets.
Hardcore fans are doing everything they can to boost their chances of scoring presale codes. Some are preemptively boosting their Ticketmaster purchase histories by buying tickets to other unrelated events that use the Verified Fan system. Others are ensuring their social media profiles and Swift fandom are prominent and public, as Ticketmaster will vet registrants to determine their level of dedication.
Come Tuesday, thousands of fans will anxiously log on right at presale time, codes in hand, hoping to beat the masses and secure their golden tickets. Considering how quickly the 2023 concerts sold out, it’s expected most shows will sell out within minutes once again.
While Ticketmaster is aiming for a smoother, bot-free presale this time, the company is bracing for extremely high demand and working to beef up its servers to handle the incoming rush. Swifties seem cautiously optimistic but remain skeptical after last time.
After presale, any remaining tickets will be sold to the general public starting August 13th. Given Swift’s astronomical popularity and her track record of selling out stadiums in minutes, it is highly unlikely there will be any tickets left by then.
Regardless of whether they emerged from the presale empty-handed, most Swifties refuse to pay exorbitant resale prices on secondary ticket sites. Still, some resellers are already prepping ticket listings at outrageous prices upwards of $10,000 per ticket.
StubHub spokesperson Jeff Poirot acknowledged that if Swifites can’t access tickets through proper channels, “brokers and phenomena like TaylorSwiftTix will enter the fold closer to the on-sale date and prices will adjust accordingly.”
While the incoming ticket hysteria will undoubtedly overwhelm Ticketmaster again, the company emphasizes that this time they’ve revamped their servers and implemented tougher policies against bots and scalpers in preparation.
Some fans remain skeptical, but Ticketmaster head of music Bob Roux stated, “We want to assure Taylor’s fans that we are ready, and this is an event we have been preparing for with Taylor’s team for many months… Don’t worry, we’re ready.”
The 2024 Eras Tour leg will likely inject millions into local economies, with Swift’s mega-stardom bringing a huge influx of visitors to each city. However, for fans, the focus remains squarely on beating the masses to secure the chance to see their favorite artist live.
Loyal Swifites advise hopeful ticket buyers to be logged in and ready to go the moment presale begins, keep trying if tickets appear sold out, and not lose hope even if entering the presale doesn’t guarantee tickets. Per Swift’s advice: “It’s a journey. Enjoy the ride!”
