Wembley Stadium tells fans without Taylor Swift tickets not to come as security tightens
LONDON — Hundreds of Taylor Swift fans lined up Wednesday morning before doors opened to the Mega Merchandise eagerly wanting to get their hands on swag.
"I'm so excited," says 10-year-old Ellie Hurtado from Atlanta. The overjoyed, fearless girl in a blue dress with wrists stacked with friendship bracelets sings along to the overhead speakers playing "I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In."
As she passes through security, she quips, "This is Taylor's Version, which is important."
Ellie and her mom, Julia Hurtado, flew into London from Vienna, where they planned to see the Eras Tour with family. The tour was canceled after Austrian government officials confirmed a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium.
"My husband and I were sitting in the hotel room and, if I can be honest, I threw up. I had a visceral reaction to the news," Julia says. "My husband and I stayed up until two in the morning thinking, 'What are we going to do and how are we going to tell [Ellie] when she wakes up?' We decided to pivot. We made the most of our time in Vienna and did a lot of sightseeing."
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Instead they belted lyrics with fellow Swifties in the street before heading to the United Kingdom, Swift's final stop on the European leg of the Eras Tour.
"I traded so many friendship bracelets," Ellie adds. "I counted one day, and I traded 58 bracelets."
The two are going to the show on Friday and, because they have tickets, they will be able to roam about the Wembley Stadium grounds before the general admission doors open at 4 p.m.
Stricter security at Wembley Stadium
The stadium that sits 89,000 fans is telling anyone without an Eras Tour ticket not to come. Additional ticket checks will be in operation around the stadium and fans will need to show proof of passes before entering the general vicinity.
Wembley Stadium's website also updated with stricter security measures including no overnight camping and no "Taylor-gating," where devoted fans without a ticket congregate outside of a stadium to listen to the live concert and engage in dancing and friendship bracelet trading. The stadium is not allowing anyone to stand outside any entrance or on the Olympics Steps at the front. Non-ticketholders will be "moved on."
The stadium's site reiterates the security of fans is "of paramount importance" and that they are working with police and the Safety Advisory Group to keep everyone safe.
London Police have told USA TODAY, "There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London. As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review."
Swift will perform at Wembley Stadium for five nights: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
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