Taylor Swift storms the stage in front of 96,000 fans for her biggest show EVER as she kicks off the Australian leg of her sold-out Eras tour
Taylor Swift stormed the stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first night of her Australian Eras tour – and her biggest concert to date – on Friday.
The global megastar, 34, left the crowds reeling as she strutted out in style for the hotly-anticipated show, which kicks off her first Australian tour since 2018.
She pulled out all the stops as she put on her usual high-energy performance for the impressive 96,000 eager Swifties who flocked to Melbourne for the epic night.
While Swiftie mania has swept Australia in the lead-up to the concert, the night also marks Taylor’s biggest show ever as almost 100,000 fans descended on the MCG.
Despite already having performed at huge sporting stadiums across the US, the opening night of her Australian tour broke records, as she has never performed to a crowd larger than 74,000.
Taylor Swift stormed the stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first night of her Australian Eras tour – and her biggest concert to date – on Friday
The global megastar, 34, left the crowds reeling as she strutted out in style for the hotly-anticipated show, which kicks off her first Australian tour since 2018
Reacting to performing at her biggest show to date, Taylor reportedly told crowds: ‘This is the biggest show we’ve done on this tour or any tour I have ever done!
‘That’s the version you get of me tonight, the version that is completely star-struck by the fact that so many of you wanted to hang out with us on Saturday night in Melbourne!’
For the record-breaking night, Taylor put on a very leggy display in her signature jewelled silver and pink leotard, which she styled with matching knee-high boots as she stormed the stage.
Ahead of her epic debut, Sabrina Carpenter had put on a high-energy performance as she warmed the crowds up.
The American singer, 24, kicked off the hotly-anticipated tour at 6.30pm with her epic support act performance, and she pulled out all the stops for the occasion.
Sabrina put on a very leggy display in a figure-hugging pink dazzling gown as she belted out her best loved hits and covers including Olivia Newton John’s Hopelessly Devoted To You.
She teamed her fashionable ensemble with a pair of knee-high white boots and styled her fringed golden tresses loosely across her shoulders.
She pulled out all the stops as she put on her usual high-energy performance for the impressive 96,000 eager Swifties who flocked to Melbourne for the epic night
She put on a high-energy performance as she got the crowds excited ahead of global megastar Taylor, 34, taking to the stage.
Sabrina played hits including Read Your Mind, Feather, Vicious, Tornado Warnings and Nonsense as Swifties flocked in their thousands into the venue to watch.
Ahead of the show, Taylor was seen being chauffeured FBI-style to the stadium on Friday afternoon, just hours before taking to the stage.
A cavalcade of blacked out Land Rovers were seen driving down Brunton Ave and into the underground carpark of the venue, with one carrying the Shake It Off star.
Fans have been eagerly waiting for Taylor to take to the stage in her first Australian tour since 2018, and flocked to the venue early amid the Swiftie mania.
Thousands of the popstar’s fans swarmed the arena two hours before the show’s start time of 6.30pm in an attempt to avoid the long lines to get in.
Ahead of her epic debut, Sabrina Carpenter had put on a high-energy performance as she warmed the crowds up
American singer Sabrina, 24, kicked off the hotly-anticipated tour at 6.30pm with her epic support act performance, and she pulled out all the stops for the occasion
Sabrina put on a very leggy display in a figure-hugging pink dazzling gown as she belted out her best loved hits and covers including Olivia Newton John’s Hopelessly Devoted To You
She teamed her fashionable ensemble with a pair of knee-high white boots and styled her fringed golden tresses loosely across her shoulders
She put on a high-energy performance as she got the crowds excited ahead of global megastar Taylor, 34, taking to the stage
Thousands of eager fans descended on the Melbourne Cricket Ground – which has a capacity of 100,000 – on Friday for the first night of Taylor’s Eras tour Down Under
Ahead of the show, Taylor was seen being chauffeured FBI-style to the stadium on Friday afternoon, just hours before taking to the stage
A cavalcade of blackout Land Rovers were seen driving down Brunton Ave and into the underground carpark of the venue, with one carrying the Shake It Off star
Several excited attendees were dressed in the theme of each of Taylor’s ‘Eras’.
Fans typically pick their favourite album and dress according to that ‘era’ and colour – be it with the classic Fearless cowboy boots or the Folklore cottage core dresses.
Taylor is expected to pull out all the stops for her Australian tour and has had just two days to get over her jet leg before taking to the stage for her first show.
Taylor mania began when she touched down in Melbourne early Thursday morning at approximately 12.40am and was greeted by a legion of die-hard Swifties.
The Cruel Summer singer travelled in style on board a Bombardier Global 6000, a luxurious private jet that can carry up to 17 passengers.
Taylor was promptly escorted to her accommodation after her 12 hour flight where she will rest until she takes to the stage in front of 85,000 screaming fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.The performance will kick off the first of Taylor’s seven sold out shows in Australia.
The huge line of cars were seen driving up to the venue as the global megastar made her hotly-anticipated debut
Though the singer was not seen, her line of vehicles arrived at the venue ahead of her on-stage debut
The line-up of vehicles was seen turning into the venue ahead of Taylor’s first show
The organised convoy of vehicles drew up to the venue ahead of the singer’s tour kicking off
Taylor made her low-key arrival at the venue just hours ahead of taking to the stage
Huge crowds were seen lining up outside the venue as Swiftie mania kicked off
Crowds were seen queuing up outside the venue as the mania began ahead of the show
Crowds were seen excitedly heading towards the MCG for the epic show
Meanwhile, thousands of the popstar’s fans swarmed the arena two hours before the show’s start time of 6.30pm in an attempt to avoid the long lines to get in
Several women were dressed in the theme of each of Taylor’s ‘Eras’
After fans were told they couldn’t bring extra friendship bracelets on d-rings into the venues, they wore them stacked up their arms in tradition
Fans pulled out all the stops with their incredible outfits as they marked the tour’s start in style
Fans eagerly posed for snaps as they watched to watch the global superstar on stage
Fans flocked into the venue early in a bid to avoid any long lines, despite organisers asking them not to arrive too early in the day
Taylor’s flight (VJT993) from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Melbourne became the globe’s most-tracked flight with almost 1,500 of her eager fans watching its trek across the Pacific.
Taylor – who is dating Kansas Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce – completely missed out on Valentine’s Day due to her travels, being airborne for the entire romantic day.
She took off in Hawaii at 4.52pm local time on February 13, and didn’t land until the early hours on February 15 AEDT due to the 21-hour time difference, meaning she missed the big day.
But she had just spent a few days with her boyfriend Travis in Los Angeles as she celebrated with him after he won the NFL Super Bowl, before jetting off Down Under.
Excitement is already building for her Australian Eras tour as thousands of Swifties are ready to crowd into the Melbourne Cricket Ground from February 16 to 18 and the Accor Stadium in Sydney from February 23 to 26 for her shows.
More than 600,000 tickets have been sold for her performances, and some fans are going to the desperate measure of chartering their own flights to get to her shows, according to travel agency Flight Centre.
Groups of Swifties were seen travelling to the venue on public transport as it became overrun with fans
Huge lines formed outside the venue as 85,000 fans packed in to watch Taylor’s first Australia show on the tour
Groups of friends all arrived in their Eras themed outfits as they watched to watch the superstar
The cricket ground became completely overrun by eager fans who had been counting down until the big day
Taylor mania has swept Australia, as Swifties have been eagerly waiting for the show
Fans were seen decorating their homes with Taylor-themed displays as they marked her arrival
Melbourne went full swing into Swiftie mania amid the star’s arrival in the city
With a venue capacity of 100,000, the masses descended on Melbourne for the first Eras show
Australian fans have been eagerly awaiting Taylor to return to tour since her 2018 Reputation tour
Groups of fans were seen grinning for selfies as they commemorated the occasion
‘Commercial flights and accommodation are at a premium and we’ve even seen some travellers opting for a private charter flight to get to the concert as a result,’ Flight Centre Travel Group global leisure CEO James Kavanagh told news.com.au.
‘While it may seem extreme, we’re not surprised to see people opting for private flights through our charter aircraft company AVMIN and we’ve had bookings for both Taylor’s Sydney and Melbourne shows.’
Flight Centre have revealed commercial flights from Brisbane to Melbourne cost approximately $569 for the February 16 show. The following week, the same route drops dramatically to $118.
Organisers of the tour are also concerned about the 15,000 fans who are estimated to arrive at the pop star’s sold-out shows despite not having tickets.
Venues NSW has warned ticketless fanatics to stay away from Accor Stadium to prevent crowd management issues, The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday.
Fans pulled out all the stops as they dressed to the nines in sequins and flashy outfits for the occasion
Swifties looked overjoyed to be at the hotly-anticipated show as they smiled for the cameras
Swifties dressed in full Eras garb as they channeled the star’s glitzy fashion sense
Fans made the most of the balmy day as they gathered outside in huge crowds outside the venue
Fans dressed in glitzy pink glasses and cowboy hats as they brought their Swiftie game to the show
Families eagerly gathered at the MCG dressed up in their pink glittery outfits for the concert
After fans were told they had to wear their friendship bracelets or pack them in a bag – rather than on D-rings, Swifties were seen with them stacked up their arms
Huge crowds had gathered outside the venue ahead of the hotly-anticipated show
Fans were seen sporting their iconic friendship bracelets as they descended on the MCG
Taylor mania began when she touched down in Melbourne early Thursday morning at approximately 12.40am and was greeted by a legion of die-hard Swifties
The Cruel Summer singer travelled in style on board a Bombardier Global 6000, a luxurious private jet that can carry up to 17 passengers
Taylor was greeted by Swifties wrapped in blankets
Her flight (VJT993) from Honolulu, Hawaii , to Melbourne became the globe’s most-tracked flight with almost 1,500 of her eager fans watching its trek across the Pacific
A spokesperson said fans who missed out on tickets should not try to ‘soak up the atmosphere’ outside, as they likely won’t hear any songs anyway.
Meanwhile, Transport NSW coordinator-general Howard Collins said the city was ‘preparing for the inevitable’.
‘What we found with other popular music venues where people can’t get tickets, people do just turn up to sort of soak up the atmosphere, and you can’t stop them other than to manage crowds,’ he said.
‘We are not encouraging ticketless fans to attend, but part of our contingency plan is allowing for extra people who may be travelling who haven’t got tickets.’
But despite warnings from the NSW government, businesses are said to be rolling out the welcome mat for all of Taylor’s fans regardless of whether they have tickets.
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said: ‘Irrespective of their ticket status, Sydney must put up the welcome sign for the Swifties because they will all make a contribution to our city in some way.’
Taylor – who is dating Kansas Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce – missed out on Valentine’s Day due to her travels, but has just celebrated Travis’ Super Bowl win with him in LA
Swifties have recently complained about their tickets disappearing amid a rise in scams , with accounts also reportedly being hacked
Amid the Swift mayhem, a technology expert has claimed that hundreds of Taylor Swift fans will be turned away at the gates of her string of Australian shows.
On Tuesday’s Mix 106.3’s Canberra Wrapped, hosts Rod Cuddihy, Bethany Larsen, and Lewis Haskew chatted with ‘techspert’ Trevor Long, who co-hosts ‘Anatomy of a Scam’ with former Today show host Deb Knight.
He made the harrowing prediction Swifties will not get into the stadiums due to fake tickets purchased through scammers.
‘I’m really nervous that at the concerts in Sydney and Melbourne, there will be hundreds of people who turn up with the barcode, they will scan it and it says “nope”,’ the scam expert said.
Swifties have recently complained about their tickets disappearing amid a rise in scams, with accounts also reportedly being hacked.
Victoria Police even urged fans to be on the lookout for scammers if trying to source any last minute tickets for the Eras tour.
The state’s Cybercrime Squad explained how scammers are targeting eager fans with fake ticket sales on social media and gave advice on how to spot the scams.
The statement read: ‘Capitalising on demand for tickets, scammers are targeting fans with fake ticket sales through social media, often hacking accounts of individuals and then using the profiles to sell fake tickets to the victim’s friends.’
Organisers of the tour are also concerned about the 15,000 fans who are estimated to arrive at the pop star’s sold-out shows despite not having tickets
‘The scammers will advertise their tickets ‘at cost price’, with a story behind why they can no longer attend.’
‘Check it once, then check it twice – they may try to rush you into buying the tickets and transferring them money. As well as the ticket price, they’ll likely ask you to pay the extra fees to change the name on the ticket.
‘They will often send what they purport to be a screenshot of the email confirmation of having bought the tickets, making the scam look more legitimate.
‘Then, once you’ve transferred the money, life will lose all its meaning for the last time, and the profile will block you.’
Victoria Police said it has already received at least 250 reports of ticketing scams – totalling more than $260,000 – since the Eras Tour kicked off in June last year.