Taylor Swift Eras Tour in New Orleans projected to have upwards of $200M economic impact

If you can’t tell by the gigantic friendship bracelet on Caesars Superdome, or the mass amount of “Swifties” converging downtown, the three-night New Orleans stop on the Taylor Swift Eras Tour is finally here. And New Orleans is ready for the economic and tourism impact. 

The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the average Taylor Swift concert ticket goer spends approximately $1,300 on travel, hotels, food, merchandise, and costumes. 

There were 150,000 tickets sold for this Friday through Sunday, Oct. 25-27, which means there will be an estimated $195 million economic impact for New Orleans this weekend. And that’s not counting any downtown businesses that concert goers may venture to and buy from, as well. 

New Orleans & Co. Reports Full Hotel Occupancy 

New Orleans & Company, formerly known as the New Orleans Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, reports 100% occupancy on Friday and Saturday nights and 80% occupancy for Sunday night of the 26,000 hotel rooms across the CBD, French Quarter and Warehouse District. New Orleans & Company is the official destination sales and marketing organization for the city’s tourism industry, representing over 1,100 member companies in the hospitality community. 

New Orleans is one of 23 U.S. stops on the Eras Tour, which is reportedly the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Oh, if you’re thinking of going to any of the concerts at the last minute, then Seat Geek has tickets as low as $1,263 on Friday, $1,145 on Saturday, and $1,220 on Sunday. They are sold out through Ticketmaster. 

“We are excited to welcome Taylor Swift and her fans to our city for this monumental event,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a press release issued by the City of New Orleans. “This tour will be an opportunity for us to showcase why we are a world class city when it comes to hosting superstar events on the biggest stages.” 

City officials announced public safety measures to prepare for the concert tour stop. The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will activate the city’s Event Command Post, staffed by representatives from public safety agencies. NOHSEP will be in contact with state and federal partners to ensure public safety. 

Additionally, road closures and parking restrictions will be in place around the Superdome on concert days. These closures will be based on pedestrian flow but will likely begin around 6 p.m. Traffic restrictions may occur on the following streets: Poydras St. (North Claiborne Ave. to Convention Center Blvd.); Canal St. (North Claiborne Ave. to N. Peters St.); and Loyola Ave. (North Iberville St. to Calliope St.). The RTA will operate a second vessel for the Canal Street/Algiers Point Ferry. 

Don’t Forget About the “Merch” (As the Kids Say) 

The dollars will also be rolling, or the credit cards will be swiped, as Taylor Swift merchandise is sold this weekend. Sales started Wednesday as early public merchandise sales took place in Champions Square. 

On Friday-Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Smoothie King Center will allow the general public to purchase merchandise. There will also be merchandise sales at Champions Square starting at 2:30 p.m. until the end of the concert. Champion Square will be a security perimeter, and guests must have a valid ticket for that day’s show. There will be no re-entry. 

If you are not attending the Taylor Swift concert, Duncan Plaza can heal your fear of missing out. 

The City of New Orleans and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy are hosting the “Embrace the Culture Festival” at Duncan Plaza – a three -night festival showcasing the best of New Orleans and Louisiana music, art, and food during Taylor Swift concert weekend. Duncan Plaza will also double down as the ride-share and transportation hub for concertgoers. 

The event is free and open to the public, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience while they wait for their rides. Uber/Lyft rideshare at Duncan Plaza will go into effect on Oct. 24. It will run on Gravier Street and Perdido Street from Loyola Avenue to Lasalle Street. 

The Embrace the Culture Festival will run from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. all three nights.