MIAMI — Swifties… are you ready for it?! Because South Florida wants to make sure you’re prepared for the Eras Tour this weekend.
From Oct. 18 to 20, Taylor Swift will perform at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in front of hundreds of thousands of fans as part of her concert series. The U.S. leg of her tour was scheduled to have wrapped up with a six-night engagement in Los Angeles that was set to conclude on Aug. 9; however, the music superstar announced multiple new stops last year due to its record-breaking success.
To ensure that Swifties have the best experience, venue officials are encouraging ticketholders to plan for their concert dates.
Here’s everything you need to know for the highly anticipated music event.
What time can fans arrive?
Hard Rock officials said parking lots open at 3:30 p.m. and stadium gates will open at 4:30 p.m. on concert dates. However, guests will not be allowed to line up or park before the gates open.
The Eras Tour begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets and parking
If you plan on driving to Hard Rock Stadium, fans are required to have both a prepaid parking pass and a ticket for that night’s show. Officials said there will be no parking for purchase on the days of the shows.
Additionally, only fans with a parking pass and a valid concert ticket may tailgate in stadium parking lots on the date of their concert ticket.
There are also no listening areas outside of the stadium for those without tickets. Fans without tickets will not be permitted on stadium property and will be asked to leave. Officials said police and stadium security will be patrolling the parking lots to ensure fans with tickets have a “safe and positive experience.”
Fans should expect to have their tickets checked multiple times upon stadium entry and are required to scan them before boarding Park & Ride busses, which are for ticketholders only.
To learn more about parking and transportation options to and from the concert, fans are encouraged to visit Hard Rock Stadium’s website.
Drop-off and pick-up
For fans who are too young to drive but old enough to go alone, Hard Rock Stadium has set up three locations for parents to drop off and pick up their Swifties for all three nights. The following lots will open at 3:30 p.m. each night:
If parents are picking up from Lots 14 and 15, they must enter the lot between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. If parents arrive after 10:30 p.m., they must use Lot 31 as road closures will go into effect at that time. Officials also recommend parents use Waze to access the quickest routes around the road closures.
Road closures
The following roads will be closed on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and all three nights from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
- Florida’s Turnpike 2X Ramp and Exit
- NW 199th St. between NW 27th Ave. and NW 14th Ct.
Miami Gardens residents will be allowed to go through the NW 199th St. closures with their resident passes issued by the city or by a driver’s license that shows a local address. Residents can also use the on-ramps to get onto the Turnpike.
Security and stadium access
Swifties will be going through multiple security and ticket checks to ensure only valid ticketholders are entering the parking lots and venue. Fans should also expect to have their ticket scanned more than once when entering Hard Rock Stadium.
Clear bag policy and prohibited items
Hard Rock Stadium officials ask all fans to follow the venue’s clear bag policy. Clear plastic bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″ and small bags that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed.
All purses and bags that exceed the clear bag policy sizes will not be allowed. Also, bags with logos can only be on one side of the bag and cannot exceed 3.4″ x 4.5″.
These are the following items that are prohibited from the Eras Tour:
- Non-clear bags exceeding 4.5″ x 6.5″
- Any material or clothing that can fully or partially cover the face — medical masks and religious garments are the only exceptions
- Clothing, costumes or personal effects that may impede other fans’ views
- Handcuffs or other restraints
- Animals — certified disability service animals are allowed
- Chains, chain wallets, studded jewelry or spurs
- Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skates, segways or other unauthorized means of transportation
- Glass, hard plastic or metal containers — clear, soft plastic water bottles no larger than 20 oz. are acceptable
- Umbrellas
- Strollers
- Noise-making devices (i.e. air horns, bells, bullhorns, thunder sticks, whistles, etc.)
- Briefcases, bags, luggage, purses larger than a clutch bag
- Weapons (i.e. guns, ammo, knives, tasers, pepper spray/etc.) — this also applies to off-duty law enforcement officers and concealed carry permit holders
- Flammable or missile-like objects, fireworks, road flares, emergency flares, explosives or other incendiary devices
- Aerosol containers, including sunscreen, pepper spray, bug spray or spray paint
- Balloons, frisbees, projectiles, horns, radios, bells, whistles, musical instruments, laser pointers, sticks, poles, bats, clubs, etc.
- Items deemed a safety hazard or annoyance to other participants
- Outside alcoholic beverages, food or drinks
- Illegal substances
- Signage, advertising, political or promotional materials such as banners or poles or signs larger than 11″ x 17″ or A3 paper
- Professional or commercial cameras or photography equipment, video cameras, GoPros, audio recording devices, microphones or tripods — no video or audio recording is allowed except for personal mobile phones
- Extendable/zoom lenses or attachable lenses
- Selfie sticks
- Drones
- Lights, torches or power banks larger than cellphones
- Two-way radios or walkie-talkies
- Laptops, tablets, digital readers or iPads
Taylor Swift merchandise store
There will be no merchandise stores located in the stadium parking lots or the surrounding areas. The only store will be located inside the stadium gates.
Fans who do not have show tickets and would like to purchase merchandise must come Wednesday or Thursday as they cannot access sales on show dates.
The store will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday with no tickets required for entry. Those who are interested must enter through Parking Gate 2.
Ticketholders can access the store from 4:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
