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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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Igloofest
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Igloofest

Music News

Igloofest Montreal Gets Four Tet, Bladee, Skepta for 2025 Lineup

The festival famous for bringing the heat to Montreal's ice cold winters has revealed its 17th edition, with Canadian duo Zeds Dead, German DJ Claptone and UK producer Michael Bibi — in his Montreal debut — also set to take the outdoor stage.

Igloofest is preparing for a heated 17th edition in the depths of Montreal winter.

U.K. electronic musician Four Tet and Swedish rapper and Drain Gang mastermind Bladee will both take the festival's outdoor stage, helping the crowd get some friction going amidst frigid temperatures. So will British rapper Skepta, bringing his Más Tiempo house DJ set to Montreal.

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