MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Excitement is building in South Florida as Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated “Eras Tour” heads to Hard Rock Stadium this week.
Fans, who have been eagerly awaiting the tour since last year, are already lining up to grab exclusive merchandise ahead of the performances.
The Taylor Swift merchandise store opened Wednesday morning at the stadium, attracting a steady stream of fans eager to purchase tour gear like T-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, and tote bags.
Among them were travelers fresh off planes, heading straight from the airport to secure their items before checking into their hotels.
“We’ve had these tickets for a year, and I’m so excited for the show,” said Maddie Frick, who flew in from Maryland. “It’s going to be an incredible experience.”
“Incredible show. It’s going to be my last Eras tour, said South Florida resident Nicole Hawkins. “I’m looking forward to everything.”
While the merch store will be open to the public through Thursday evening, once the concerts kick off Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, only ticket holders will be allowed to access the venue.
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Swifties are leaving no stone unturned as they prepare for the weekend’s shows, some even hoping to snag last-minute tickets outside the stadium.
Fans from across the country have gathered in Miami to see the pop star perform, continuing the excitement that has surrounded Swift’s record-breaking tour since it began.
Brynn Edgar, a dedicated Swiftie from Colorado, shared her excitement with Local 10 News, saying, “She is the best singer in the world.”
Others echoed her sentiment.
Kenzie Baker, from West Virginia, added, “I love Taylor, and I wanted to be able to come and see her because I didn’t get to go to the first leg of the Eras tour.”
Maddie Frick, who traveled from Maryland, said she had been waiting for a year to attend. “Had these tickets for a year,” she added.
Nicole Hawkins, from South Florida, explained, “It’s going to be my last Eras tour...since I’ve done it already, so I’m looking forward to everything.”
For Hanna Morseman of Maryland, the experience is more than just a concert. “It’s a feeling — and the experience of being there,” she said.
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Swifties of all ages, like April Edgar, a mother from Colorado, are attending the tour as a family event.
“We know all the words to every song, we’re very excited,” she said.
Fans’ favorite songs like the 10-minute version of “All Too Well” and lyrics from Swift’s albums, including “Hey, Dorothea” and “Karma is a God,” filled the air as they prepared for the event.
“We jam out all the time... every song means something different to us,” said Janier Sideregts, a South Florida mom and dedicated Swiftie.
The hype surrounding the concerts has “Bejeweled” South Florida businesses like Night Owl Cookies in Miami.
Starting Friday, they will be offering sweet cravings for the “Wildest Dreams” of a Swiftie like a Reputation, Midnights, Lover and Eras Tour themed cookies.
“We really created cookies that represent my favorite albums that she covers in the Eras Tour,” said Night Owl Cookies founder Andrew Gonzalez. “The fans, literally the first time we did it showed up and sold out within less than an hour.”
Over in Brickell, there’s a complete takeover at Rosa Sky Rooftop, with four “Perfectly Fine” concoctions like “Feeling 22″ and “Lavender Haze.”
“We are throwing an honorary Taylor Swift party, as everybody should be,” said Rosa Sky Rooftop bartender Brielle Sterlace. “Totally redecorated, disco balls everywhere, a lot of Taylor Swift merchandise and decorations to the nine.”
Click here to read Hard Rock Stadium’s information guide on what fans should expect on concert day.