Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday, July 8th, 2023. As one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now, Swift’s concert was a massive event that drew in fans from all over the Midwest and beyond.
Ticket Sales
According to news reports and information provided by the stadium, the concert was officially sold out. Arrowhead Stadium has a maximum capacity of 76,416 for football games. While concert stage and floor seating setups reduce capacity slightly, it’s estimated that over 70,000 tickets were sold for Swift’s show.
Swift’s tour has been breaking ticket sale records across North America, with most shows selling out completely within minutes or hours of going on sale. There was incredibly high demand in Kansas City as well, with tickets being quickly snapped up as soon as they were available.
Crowd Size
While over 70,000 tickets were reported to be sold, the actual crowd size attending the concert was likely slightly less. Not everyone who buys tickets ultimately attends for various reasons. Estimates based on photos and videos of the event suggest that around 65,000-68,000 people ultimately showed up to see Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium.
Some key points about the crowd size:
- The stadium looked packed with fans filling most seats and the floor area.
- Behind the stage seating sections appeared sparsely populated, reducing capacity on one side.
- Years of concert crowd size estimates at Arrowhead suggest that roughly 65,000-68,000 was likely for this show.
- That range would represent about 90-95% of the venue’s capacity used.
Attendance Compared to Other Swift Concerts
How did the Kansas City turnout compare to other stops so far on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour?
City | Venue | Estimated Attendance |
---|---|---|
Glendale, AZ | State Farm Stadium | 59,157 |
Las Vegas, NV | Allegiant Stadium | 62,711 |
Arlington, TX | AT&T Stadium | 72,038 |
Kansas City, MO | Arrowhead Stadium | 65,000-68,000 |
Comparing the numbers, Kansas City ended up with one of the highest crowd sizes on the tour so far. Only the massive AT&T Stadium show in Arlington topped Arrowhead Stadium in terms of attendance. Swift proved her ability to draw huge crowds across stadiums in different markets.
Behind the Scenes and Crew
In addition to the tens of thousands of screaming Swifties in the stands, these massive stadium shows require huge crews working behind the scenes to pull everything off:
- 150-200+ local stagehands were likely hired to help load in and set up the stage, lights, video walls and pyrotechnics.
- A core touring crew of over 100 traveled with Swift handling sound, instruments, and other production aspects.
- Scores of venue staff were required for parking, concessions, security and more.
- Hired muscle from local security companies provided protection for Swift and monitored the crowds.
The total behind the scenes staff for the Arrowhead Stadium show likely numbered over 500 people. This small army worked for days ahead of time transforming the stadium for a swift, precise production.
Power and Production
Just a few of the production numbers illustrate the sheer size of Swift’s tour:
- 400,000 watts of power
- Over 150 moving lights
- 500 LED video tiles forming massive screens
- 16 tractor trailers hauling equipment
Delivering this kind of cutting-edge stadium concert experience required the coordination of hundreds of techs, electricians, riggers, loaders, carpenters, video programmers and more.
Impact on Kansas City
Beyond the excitement of the Swifties attending the concert, a show of this magnitude also provides a significant economic boost to Kansas City. Over 65,000 out-of-town visitors fill hotel rooms, patronize restaurants and bars, shop in local stores, and use transportation services like taxis and rideshares.
While detailed financial impacts are hard to measure, some projections estimate Taylor Swift’s show generated around:
- $1 million in direct stadium revenue
- $5-10 million in additional visitor spending
- Hundreds of part-time jobs
Kansas City and nearby municipalities also benefit from taxes on sales, hotel rooms, parking and other activities. Swift’s mega-concert had a noticeable local impact for the weekend.
Summary
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium drew an enormous crowd approaching 70,000 fans. The show established itself as one of the largest concerts in Kansas City history based on attendance. It also had a significant economic benefit for the city. Swift’s ability to sell out massive stadiums in markets across North America confirms her status as one of the most popular music artists in the world right now.