National

Economic impact of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Vancouver estimated at $157 M

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Nov, 2024 10:55 AM

Tourism body Destination Vancouver says Taylor Swift will bring an estimated $157 million economic impact to the city next week with the three final concert dates of the record-breaking Eras Tour.

Destination Vancouver says the forecast includes $97 million in direct spending on items including accommodation, food and transport.

It says the Eras Tour is expected to bring more than 150,000 Swifties to BC Place over the three shows from Dec. 6 to 8, and has resulted in more than 82,000 rooms booked across the region.

✨ Your Vancouver Era begins here. ✨ Next week, @taylorswift13 takes the stage in Vancouver from December 6 to 8, and the city is transforming into a Swiftie paradise. 🎤🎵 We've curated every event, activation, and activity just for you: https://t.co/35CNpPB0E6 pic.twitter.com/WuAcBuip7F
— Destination Vancouver (@MyVancouver) November 26, 2024

The tourism organization made the calculations with BC Pavilion Corporation, which operates BC Place, and says 70 per cent of direct spending will be from out-of-town fans.

It says the economic boost will bring more than $27 million in total tax revenue for all three levels of government.

The Vancouver dates that close out Swift's two-year world tour come after six sold-out concerts at Toronto's Roger's Arena, which spanned two weeks and concluded Saturday.

Destination Toronto had estimated $152 million in direct spending, which was expected to grow to $282 million as the money continued to circulate.

The Eras Tour has touched down in five continents and will have clocked nearly 150 performances by the time it's over.

Destination Vancouver says fan events are planned across the city, including 13 Taylor Swift-themed lighting installations in the downtown core starting Friday and ending a week later on the day of the first show.

"Destination Vancouver volunteers will be on hand to assist fans with directions and information over the concert weekend and to hand out special ‘Vancouver’ friendship bracelets," the organization says.

Mayor Ken Sim says in a news release about the economic impact that he is "thrilled" Vancouver was chosen to host the last stop on Swift's tour.

"This iconic event hasn’t just captivated audiences around the world, it has translated into a huge economic boost for every city it has visited, and Vancouver is no exception," Sim says.

"Vancouver is proud to be a world-class city, and hosting an event of this scale only strengthens our place as a top-tier global destination."

Destination Vancouver says B.C. charities have also been "significantly boosted over the last month through donations of tickets and prize packages" via its Community Benefits Program, with the tickets auctioned or raffled to raise funds.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Groups say Jewish students, staff at University of B.C. face hostile environment

A coalition of Jewish organizations says it is "deeply alarmed" by a rising tide of antisemitism at the University of British Columbia in recent weeks. A joint statement sent out by six groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and Canadian Jewish Advocacy, says Jewish staff, students and faculty members at the university have faced "an increasingly hostile environment" since the start of the academic year.

Groups say Jewish students, staff at University of B.C. face hostile environment

Vancouver begins process of closing homeless encampment at Crab Park

Vancouver's park board says it has begun the process of closing the homeless encampment that has been in place at a local park since 2021. The park board says it is talking directly with each of the seven people still in the camp located in the designated area at Crab Park, with the goal of closing the encampment and returning the area to "general park use" by Nov. 7.

Vancouver begins process of closing homeless encampment at Crab Park

What you need to know as Trudeau fights to retain leadership of the Liberal party

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resisted calls for his resignation for more than a year now but in recent weeks those calls have grown louder and in some cases more public. The Liberal caucus met Wednesday, where MPs had a three-hour long discussion about their party's current state and whether Trudeau is the best one to keep leading it.

What you need to know as Trudeau fights to retain leadership of the Liberal party

Poll suggests more than half of Canadians unaware of gridlock in House of Commons

A debate has ground work in the House of Commons to a halt for weeks, but a new poll suggests that most Canadians are not even aware it's happening. In a new survey from polling firm Leger, 55 per cent of respondents said they had not heard about the procedural issues that have gridlocked Parliament for more than 12 sitting days.

Poll suggests more than half of Canadians unaware of gridlock in House of Commons

Oil removal work begins on 'fragile' Second World War-era wreck in coastal B.C.

The Canadian Coast Guard said the 77-metre-long Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski has been burping up "slow but consistent drops of oil" since the fall of 2022 at the shipwreck site in Grenville Channel, part of the Inside Passage off northern B.C.

Oil removal work begins on 'fragile' Second World War-era wreck in coastal B.C.

B.C. Green leader spoke with NDP's Eby, but didn't pick up when Conservatives called

Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau says the starting place to supporting whichever party comes to power in British Columbia is her party's platform. Furstenau says she has taken a call from NDP Leader David Eby, but didn't answer the phone when B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad called, adding she didn't recognize the number.