Taylor Swift in Vancouver: Set times, merch prices, bag policy, and ...

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It’s been a long time coming.

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Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour has been on the road for nearly two years, with 149 stops across five continents, and it’s all coming to an end right here in Vancouver with three shows on Dec. 6, 7 and 8 at B.C. Place.

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Read on for absolutely everything you need to know to prepare for the end of an era.

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What time do doors open for Taylor Swift? When and where can I line up?

Taylor Swift runs a tight ship. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., which has been typical at each stop of her tour. Then at 6:45 p.m., Gracie Abrams is expected to take the stage, while Taylor Swift herself will likely step out just before 8 p.m.

What gate should I use to enter?

Ticket holders are being reminded to check their ticket for their suggested gate entry point. You don’t want to get caught trying to swim upstream through a crowd to get to your seat so your best bet is to make sure you know what gate is listed on your ticket, figure out the best entry point to the stadium zone to access your gate, and plan your trip to the stadium around that.

Will there be tickets available at the door?

Absolutely not. There will be no tickets sold at the stadium. All tickets are mobile tickets and fans are reminded to check that they are able to access their mobile tickets before arriving.

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Read more: Taylor Swift in Vancouver: How to avoid getting scammed on last-minute tickets

How much does merch cost and where can I buy it?

Throughout the Eras Tour, there have been merch booths set up for sales outside venues on non-concert days leading up to the actual date of the shows. The strategy allows concert goers to snag merch without spending hours in line on show day or having to haul around their goodies during the concert; it also serves as a consolation prize for those who couldn’t get their hands on tickets for the big show.

In Vancouver, there will be two pre-show pop-up merch sales.

Marriott Bonvoy Eras Tour merch pre-sale: This sale is for Marriott Bonvoy members (it’s free to sign up) and will take place at The Westin Bayshore (1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver). For full details on how to access that sale, check out our Taylor Swift merch shopping guide here.

Canada Place Eras Tour merch pre-sale: This sale is open to both ticketed and non-ticketed fans. This pop-up will be located at the Canada Place cruise ship terminal at the Port of Vancouver (999 Canada Pl., Vancouver). This sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5, and then again from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6, 7 and 8.

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But pre-show doesn’t necessarily mean the crowds will be any easier to navigate. Know that previous non-concert sale dates have seen people lining up as early as 6:30 a.m. to try to get their hands on merch, including the coveted blue crewneck.

As for prices, Swift’s recent stretch of six shows in Toronto over two weeks gave us a glimpse into the Canadian pricing for her merch.

Read more: Here’s where Taylor Swift fans can buy Eras Tour merch beyond B.C. Place

Here’s a list of what was for sale in Toronto and their prices in Canadian dollars:

• Black / Beige / White Eras Tour T-shirt: $60 • Longsleeve: $60 • Black / Beige Eras Tour Hoodie: $110 • Eras Tour Crewneck: $95 • Eras Tour 1/4 Zip Pullover: $95 • Eras Bracelet: $50 • Eras Tour Tapestry: $30 • Eras Tote Bag: $30 • Tour Water Bottle: $30 • Event Poster: $40

Fans react during the opening of Taylor Swift’s performance during the opening show of the Toronto dates for The Eras Tour, on Thursday, Nov.14, 2024. Photo by Chris Young /THE CANADIAN PRESSWhat can and can’t I bring into the venue? Do I need a clear bag?

BANNED ITEMS: Items that cannot be brought into the venue include anything glass, hard plastic, or metal containers of any kind. You’re also not allowed to bring in posters bigger than 11 by 17 inches (A3), no noisemakers, no lights or battery packs that are larger than your phone, and no clothing, costume or personal effects that will obstruct the view of those behind you. No weapons of any kind (guns, ammo, knives, tasers, pepper spray, mace, etc.) are permitted. No aerosol containers (sunscreen, pepper spray, bug spray, or spray paint). No balloons, Frisbees, projectiles, horns, radios, bells, whistles, musical instruments, laser pointers, sticks, poles, bats or clubs are allowed.

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Water bottles: You are allowed to bring one clear, soft empty plastic water bottle no larger than 500 millilitres, that does not have a lid.

Friendship bracelets: If you’re planning to bring friendship bracelets to trade, know that you will have to come in wearing them. Venue policies for Swift’s recent Toronto shows banned carabiners and shower curtain rings, which fans had been using earlier in the tour to keep all their trinkets in one place.

Bracelets made at a friendship bracelet-making workshop by members of a Swifties Club at UBC. Photo by Dhriya Poppet

Recording devices: No professional or commercial cameras or photo equipment, video cameras, GoPros, audio recording devices, or tripods are allowed. No extendable or attachable lenses on cameras or phones are allowed. No laptops, computers, tablets, digital readers or iPads are allowed. The only digital device you are permitted to bring in is a mobile phone and a battery back that is no bigger than the size of your phone.

Clear bag policy: As for bags, B.C. Place will be adhering to a clear bag policy for the Taylor Swift concert, restricting bags to very specific sizes and types. Non-clear small clutch purses and belt bags under 6.5 by 4.5 inches, with or without straps and handles, are permitted.

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The only larger bags that are permitted are clear totes or freezer bags no bigger than 12 inches wide, 12 inches tall, and 6 inches deep. There can’t be any sort of pattern printed on the bag. If there is a logo, it cannot be larger than 3.4 inches by 4.5 inches.

Exceptions: Exceptions may be made for diaper bags carrying breast pumps and medically necessary items that can’t fit into a smaller bag. But your best bet is still to try to go bagless or use a clear tote if you are able.

For the full venue policy, check out the B.C. Place website.

What’s the best way to get to the venue? Will there be any traffic closures?

The city, Vancouver police and TransLink are advising the public of road closures and temporary no-go zones for non-ticket holders as Swifties flock to The Eras Tour shows this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6, 7 and 8.

An advisory from the City of Vancouver warns roads and plazas around concert venue B.C. Place will be restricted to those with tickets, and anyone hoping to “Tay-Gate” will be out of luck if they try to access the area.

It encourages those trying to get to the stadium to walk, bike, roll or take transit, and to plan for significant delays and major congestion, especially near B.C. Place, Rogers Arena and Concord Pacific Place.

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For full details on how to get to the concert, check out our Taylor Swift road closures and transportation guide.

The area around B.C. Place will be designated as a no-go zone the nights of the concert, with strict restrictions in place. Be sure you know how to get to the concert by checking our Taylor Swift transportation guide.Will there be some famous friends in the audience?

Vancouver is known as Hollywood North so with our fair share of recognizable faces based here, there’s a very good chance you’ll see some famous faces in the crowd for the concerts. Especially as it’s Swift’s final bow on an industry-changing, record-breaking tour, she’s bound to have some friends in attendance who will want to cheer her on and celebrate.

Our best guess? Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, notable Swifties and pals of the singer-songwriter, have attend a couple of Swift’s previous tour dates, including in Madrid and New Orleans. And since Reynold grew up and still has family in Vancouver, it seems an obvious bet that he might be in attendance for one of the three Vancouver shows.

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Comedian Nikki Glaser also shared that she’d be attending night 3 in Vancouver, during an interview this week on the red carpet of The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala.

“I’m very sad that it’s ending, it’s been such a huge part of my life,” said Glaser. “I’ve gone to 22 shows but I’m so excited. I haven’t felt this kind of excitement since the first one.”

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I couldn’t get a ticket for the concert. Can I Tay-gate? Where are non-ticketed fans gathering?

Ticketless fans hoping to gather outside of B.C. Place to hear Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour will have to go a little further from the venue than they had likely planned.

In a joint statement issued by the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Department, TransLink and the venue on Thursday, it was noted that “B.C. Place and its surrounding areas will be strictly limited to ticket holders. Fans without tickets are strongly advised to avoid the stadium vicinity on event nights.”

If you’re looking to gather with other Taylor fans who also weren’t able to get tickets, read our story here for where some fans might be gathering this weekend.

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