November 2024

---

 “That  was the most phenomenal and smooth concert experience I’ve ever had,”  my dad said as we exited the stadium. On Friday October 18, 2024 my  family and I went to see Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour at Miami Hard Rock  Stadium. Now, it was a process to get there. In August of 2023, I was  the only one in my family to get a presale code for a show. The morning  of the sale, I was logged on as soon as the queue opened. At 8:00 the  sale was live, my dad and I had five minutes to browse for the best  possible seats. We chose section 118, row 11, seats 17, 18, 19, and 20. Now the wait.

    From  when the tickets were purchased to the show, time was spent planning  outfits, making friendship bracelets, and arranging travel from Denver  to Miami. The wait felt like forever but as it got closer and closer the  time started to fly by. We touched down in Miami the Tuesday before the  show.

On  Wednesday, we made our way down to the stadium for the merch truck.  Which was not a truck but a booth inside the stadium. We were let into  the parking lot at 10AM. We filed into a parking spot before making our  way up to the stadium. Quickly going through security, the line began  outside but then it flowed right inside. We walked through rows of rope  to the counter. We stared at the wall deciding what we wanted until it  was our turn for the counter. Everyone got at least one thing, and I had  to grab something for a friend because it sold out at the Denver shows  (and was one of the only things not offered online). While my dad walked  out with a hole in his pocket, it was completely worth it getting merch  before show day.

As  a side note, my dad made a new friend while at the merch table. The  person assisting us at the Taylor Swift merch table was the lead singer,  Tonya Denton, of an up and coming rock band Lydia’s Castle. They’re  working on a new album now, but you can check out some of their music on  YouTube. Ok, back to Taylor!

 Show  day finally arrived. We relaxed as much as possible to prepare our feet  for the hours of standing. I had to not only get myself ready but do my  mom’s hair and draw a bright pink heart around my dad’s eye. Everyone  dressed in their own chosen eras, Mom as Red, Keila as 1989, Dad as a mash up of 1989 and Lover, and then Me dressed up like Reputation.

We  prepaid to park in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino parking lot  to shuttle down to the stadium. Which was one of the reasons the travel  was so smooth. Just sitting on the bus the anticipation grew, my legs  were shaking with excitement. Even my dad was jittery. We rolled up  right in front of the Hard Rock Stadium to deboard our bus. We entered  the stadium and my dad was immediately asking questions, which is just his style. We told the guy our seats were in section 118 and he said go  right through the arch labeled “Lexus Sideline Club.” 

I didn’t believe  him at all because it wasn’t listed in the description when we bought  our tickets. But to all of our surprise we went in. The room was playing  Taylor Swift music with all kinds of food options, beverages, and  fairly exclusive restrooms. We had our own door access only steps away  from our seats. My dad said that if he knew about the club access we  would have been there right as the stadium doors opened.

We  did some quick snacking before the opening act, Gracie Abrams, took the  stage. Sitting in our seats waiting, some girls walked around to trade friendship bracelets with us. We had to take lots of photos to prove, to our family, friends, and even ourselves, that we were really there.  Taylor even had music videos and "The Making of" playing on the screen  before Gracie came on stage. But as soon as the lights went out for  Gracie the stadium was already pumped. Her brief 40 minute setlist set just the right tone for Taylor Swift. Gracie's voice, instrumental  abilities, and stage presence were amazing. She might even be the next  Taylor Swift!

 After  Gracie departed the stage, one last quick restroom break before the  moment our lives changed. The count down clock appeared on screen and I  was shaking. I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was jumping and  squealing until I could see her boots under the seashells that cover her  as she rises from below the stage and steps forward to open her show.  As soon as I could see her it was full blown yelling and screaming and  singing for the rest of the show.

We  had a new Fearless outfit and as the intro for Reputation was playing, I  stood there praying for Reputation Taylor’s Version but she ended up coming out in the brand new gold snaked Reputation bodysuit. The whole  stadium erupted when they saw her decked out. And after that we were so  sure she was going to announce Reputation (Taylor's Version) during the surprise song set.  While I did see the Eras Tour in the movie theater and on Disney+ when it was released, I tried to keep as much of the new reboot of the tour a  surprise. So when she came out to perform the The Tortured Poets  Department set I was just in awe. 

While at the beginning, there was a minor issue with her dress, Taylor asked for help and quickly blew it off with a “Thanks guys!” for the dancers that helped her. I got to see Florence from Florence + The Machine perform Florida! with Taylor in  Miami, Florida! And watching her fly around on a stage platform singing  Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me was so empowering. The anger and passion she had was electric.

 Finally,  the moment we had been waiting for. The surprise song set. She came on  stage in this mermaid colored dress, brand new and beautiful. She gave a spiel before singing a mashup of Tim McGraw x Timeless on the guitar  and with the little hope we had of a Reputation TV announcement we were crushed  when she sang This Is Me Trying x Daylight. Neither of the 4 songs were  featured on the Reputation album. Although these combos were so  amazing! Emotional and well thought out. 

After the show, some Swifties  did their research and said that the first combo of songs were from her  first album and third album, which is 13. And then the second combo was  from her eighth album and seventh album, which is 87. 

When Taylor went  to jump onto the stage after the surprise songs she almost slipped as it  had been raining for most of the night. Therefore we had a famous  Taylor rain show! 

 During her Midnights set, she pulled out the bow and arrow move Travis Kelce does when he scores a touchdown on the field. And I am quite sad to  report Travis was not at the show but Mama Kelce, and Jason + his family  were there in his place.

The  show came to an end with Karma. We had a smooth exit and arrival back  to our car. Which is why my dad made his claim. And while he may dislike stadium shows and is a die hard rocker, he said this is the best  concert experience he has ever had.

Now  two days later, I am sitting in my living room writing this while  watching the live stream of Miami Night 3. As soon as I woke up the next  morning I was suffering from withdrawals. I am so grateful to have gone  and had the experience. But without the build up, the anticipation, the  rising excitement, I don’t have much to dream about at the moment. Oh  wait, I’m seeing Benson Boone, Dasha, and The Fray at the Fillmore  Theater in December! Until then, I can hardly wait for Reputation (Taylor's Version, Debut (Taylor's Version),  hopefully a reboot of her Eras Tour movie, and another tour/album!

Thanks for reading!

- Chloe ♥