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Concerts

Toronto Makes Infrastructure Changes to Get Ready For Its Taylor Swift Era

The city is upgrading the Rogers Centre and redesignating the roads around it to prepare for the superstar's six Eras Tour performances in November, 2024.

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Beth Garrabrant

Toronto is preparing for a new era.

Taylor Swift will bring her behemoth Eras Tour to the biggest city in Canada for six sold-out shows in November.


But Torontonians know all too well that major concerts can lead to bad traffic downtown. The city has announced that to help those shows run more smoothly, there will be a 'Limited Activity Zone' around the Rogers Centre stadium during the two weeks of Swift-mania.

Planned work in the zone — like construction or filming — will be limited to off-peak hours and will require express permission from the City of Toronto, though emergency work will be allowed.

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The zone covers a sizeable area of Toronto's downtown and will aim to keep traffic flowing as roughly 240,000 fans attend Taylor Swift's performances. The affected industries shouldn't be too worried though — the zone will only be in place for a fortnight, from Nov. 11 to 25.

The 'Limited Activity Zone' isn't the only infrastructural adjustment needed to account for Swift's superstardom. Rogers revealed last week that it just completed an $8 million upgrade to its 5G network at the Rogers Centre, so fans can livestream the enchanting spectacle in real-time — or just text their friends, which can be tough during service overloads at major events.

The route from Rogers Centre north to Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square, where City Hall sits, will also be renamed Taylor Swift Way for the month. Signs will designate the new name, guiding fans into the 'Limited Activity Zone' where Swift will take the stage.

The city is anticipating a major financial boost from Swift's visit, with over $250 million in economic impact projected.

Taylor Swift performs in Toronto from Nov. 14-16 and again from Nov. 21-23.

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Blue Rodeo
Dustin Rabin

Blue Rodeo

FYI

Music News Digest: Blue Rodeo Celebrates Turning 40 With A Free Hometown Show in Toronto

In this week's industry digest: Music Managers Forum Canada opens applications for BESPOKE Mentorship Program, Music BC names its ARC Mentors and more.

40 years together as a band is a milestone worth celebrating, and Toronto roots-rock heroes Blue Rodeo are certainly doing that. As part of their anniversary year festivities, a stripped down version of the group (co-founders Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy plus guitarists Colin Cripps and Jimmy Bowskill) played a free acoustic show in Toronto's Distillery District on Monday afternoon. The well-attended gig also served as promotion for a just-launched signature beer, Blue Rodeo Ontario Lager, produced by Mill Street Brewery.

Earlier this year, a full-length documentary on Blue Rodeo, Lost Together, was released to much acclaim, and it is currently  available on CBC Gem. The band also got its own Canada Post stamp back in April, one depicting its current lineup of Keelor, Cuddy, Cripps, Bowskill, Bazil Donovan, Glenn Milchem and Mike Boguski. Blue Rodeo continue to play across the country this summer, fall and into 2026, closing out with two nights at Massey Hall, Jan. 23 and 24. Check their itinerary here.

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