Ending the journey in Paris (France), Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour world tour moves to Lisbon on May 24. However, the first concert in Portugal did not have a smooth start when fans had to wait an hour longer than expected in hot weather to enter the Estádio da Luz stadium.
Before the concert, recorded images showed long lines of fans lining up outside the venue. According to the announcement, the gate opens to spectators with valid tickets at 4:00 p.m. However, it was reported that fans were not allowed inside until 4:45 p.m.
Fans lined up in the hot sun to get into the venue of Taylor Swift’s show. |
This delay made people who had been queuing for a long time become frustrated and shouted at the security staff: “Let us in.”
The situation then became even more difficult to control when 200 spectators broke through the fence, passed the security gate and entered the stadium in the terror of the security team.
“There were a lot of people pushing against the crowd. They broke down the fence. There were only two security guards outside so security had to be deployed to deal with the rowdy fans. They started shouting, ‘Let us in, let us in’. Fans are hysterical over the delay. People were pushing and screaming. The staff were quite worried and scared before the incident. I don’t know what caused the delay, but we had to wait for VIP guests to get inside, and other fans were forced to wait,” the security guard recounted.
The hot weather is said to be the reason why fans are more likely to have angry outbursts than usual. Security has a strict rule that no water is allowed into the yard. However, due to fans having to wait for a long time in the heat, the organizers had to make a last-minute change, allowing drinking water to be brought into the covered stadium.
“I just feel sad. I spent thousands of dollars to meet Taylor. Please, I just want to stay inside,” one person said.
Meanwhile, a spectator from Amsterdam (Netherlands) said he and three friends waited in line for an hour and a half, but when they approached the stadium gate, they were kicked out.
“We are like grazing cattle. Total chaos,” the female fan said.
Fans broke down the fence after being made to wait too long. Source: Daily Mail. |
USA Today Entertainment reported that when Taylor appeared on stage, she did not apologize for the delay and kept fans waiting. Taylor’s crew also did not respond to emails when asked about the reason for the late start.
Instead, the 35-year-old singer thanked her fans for their love: “This is my first time coming to Portugal and this is how you welcome us. When I step outside, look out and see the crowd, you take my breath away. My heart beats very fast. You make me feel loved. Thank you very much”.
Taylor plans to perform one more night in Lisbon before going to Madrid (Spain) and opening the show at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu stadium on May 29.
Taylor Swift did not apologize for the delay, instead thanking Portuguese fans. Photo: EPA. |
Taylor Swift stopped in Portugal for two nights. Photo: EPA. |