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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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Ludacris performs onstage at Shaq’s Fun House held at Mardi Gras World on February 7, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Christopher Polk/Variety

Ludacris performs onstage at Shaq’s Fun House held at Mardi Gras World on February 7, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Ludacris Exits Rock the Country Lineup Following Fan Backlash

The rapper was originally announced as part of the lineup earlier this month.

Ludacris has spent years “Pimpin’ All Over The World,” but he won’t be doing so on the Rock the Country tour this summer.

On Friday (Jan. 16), Rolling Stone reported that the Grammy-winning rapper’s name had been removed from the lineup announcement poster. According to the magazine, the “My Chick Bad” MC “wasn’t supposed to be on” the lineup in the first place. Representatives for the traveling festival confirmed the news, directing Billboard to Ludacris’ team “for any additional comments.”

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