Swifties turn Liverpool into Taylor Town ahead of gig
Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have flocked to Liverpool for the first of her three-night stint on The Eras tour.
The award-winning pop star will be playing at Anfield Stadium.
More than 150,000 Swifties have descended on the city following its transformation into 'Taylor Town', which includes 11 installations.
Claire McColgan, director of the council's Culture Liverpool team, said the build up to the concerts had created "an incredible atmosphere across the whole city".
'Inspirational and empowering'
She added: "Liverpool is no longer Liverpool for this whole week, Liverpool is Taylor Town."
Fans have been polite and patient as they queued for the installations, she said.
"The queues are just chatting amongst themselves and then people are just having real moments of coming together with people they don't know.
"It's just been beautiful."
Fans have travelled from as far away as New Zealand and the United States for the Eras Tour.
Swiftie, Julia has flown in from Austin, Texas with her mum, Kathy from Saudi Arabia.
Julia said she has always been a Taylor Swift fan but became "obsessed" with the artist over the past year and was "quite interested" to see if she would "make it through without crying".
"When I saw she was doing the Eras Tour I just had to go, because she’s doing every possible album," she said.
"I am just so inspired by her passion and her drive and I think what she is doing is so inspirational, especially for women and she is just so inclusive with all types of people."
Kathy said the 34-year-old singer was "empowering" for women.
Hannah Horst, 25, had travelled to Liverpool from Wisconsin in America with Angela Jacoby, Sam Kappel, both also 25, and Hannah May, 23, after they failed to get tickets for her US gigs.
She said: "The city embraces it. We love that, we think that's so great."
The friends, who said they expected to be "sobbing" during their idol's concert, described Swift as a "welcoming space" and said they were "loving every minute" of the trip.
It is claimed the singer's Eras tour will provide a £997m boost to the UK economy, according to a recent Barclays Swiftonomics report.
The trail was inspired by Swift's back catalogue of hits, and will run until 16 June.
One mother and daughter, flying in from Florida, said they were "excited" when they found out what Liverpool were doing.
Cali, 17, was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of three and is now in remission.
The Swiftie said she was "so excited" to celebrate her "13 years cancer free on the 13th with Taylor", adding that "13 is Taylor's number".
"I haven't heard of other cities doing what Liverpool is doing, so we are really excited to get to experience it," said Cali's mother, Mindy.
Lauren O'Leary, 37, came back to her hometown of Liverpool from New Zealand to see Swift.
She said: "It's amazing that she's coming here. It's such a good vibe. It's just going to be a brilliant atmosphere."
Her niece Ellie Dohthwaite, 18, who will be at the concert with her, added: "I've literally cried every morning, I'm so excited."
Merseyside Police warned fans not to camp and those without tickets are asked not to travel to Anfield.
Police patrols will be increased around Anfield Stadium, the city centre and railway stations.
A Liverpool Loves Taylor information stand will be in operation at Liverpool Lime Street Station until 15 June.
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