If you were anywhere near downtown Vancouver in December 2024, you felt it. The air just changed. Usually, when I’m on the Skytrain, it’s just a sea of people in raincoats staring at their phones, but for three nights, it was a sea of sequins, friendship bracelets, and a level of energy I’ve never seen in this city.
Compared to others I’m definitely not the biggest Taylor Swift fan. But, for the week that BC dawned a massive Swifty themed friendship bracelet, it was hard not to be. It didn’t feel like just another concert, it felt like Vancouver was finally the center of the world. Literally, there’s stories of people spending thousands to get the chance to see her final stop on the Era’s tour, not to mention the full documentary crew following the tour.
As a Vancouverite it’s very hard to not feel a little cocky that the biggest tour in human history chose our city to take its final bow. But, seriously, how could you not? Despite its many amazing features and history Vancouver commonly gets overlooked as a major city. So when the biggest pop artist of my generation chooses BC Place as her final stop in her iconic tour, your Vancouver pride should shine bright.
What’s even wilder is that if you watch the final cuts of her tour documentary and the footage used to archive the “Era,” you see Vancouver. You see the North Shore mountains in the background of the B-roll. You see the fans lined up outside the stadium in the rain. You can even see the BC Lions logo on the side of BC Place.
On the final night of the tour, I went to a Canucks game in Vancouver around the same time as the final show. I remember walking past BC Place on my way home and seeing people who had traveled from literally all over the world just to be near the building. It reminded me of the stories about the 2010 Olympics or even 1986 expo. Vancouver being the centre of the world.
In the end, having the Eras Tour featured in her documentary with Vancouver as the closing chapter is a permanent record of what we’re capable of. It’s not just trivia; it’s a reminder that even in a city that can feel corporate, 60,000 people screaming the lyrics to my favourite “22″ is about as real as it gets. It proves that whether it’s a DIY garage show in East Van or the literal biggest tour in history, this city has a soul. You just have to be there to hear it.