Fans disagree over age restriction for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM – Welcome to “Swiftholm!”

The Swedish capital temporarily changed its name to honor Taylor Swift and her hugely successful Eras Tour. Swift was scheduled to perform at the Friends Arena for three nights.

“We’re from a very small town of 400 people in central Illinois,” said Jennifer Crane of Paxton. She held up a copy of her hometown newspaper, the Ford County Chronicle, and took a photo in front of the arena with her sister, niece and a friend from Chicago. “We’re taking a photo because we’re on the front page.”

Crane says the show in Sweden was significantly cheaper than the cheapest tickets in Indianapolis, New Orleans or Miami, the three places Swift will bring her Eras tour to America this fall.

There were some rules in the stadium that the Americans had become accustomed to: an age limit of 13 and a ban on bags.

“We usually carry clear bags to all events in America, so we had to get creative,” says Crane. “Phones on straps, pockets. So many bags. Lipstick in our pockets. But we get by.”

For safety reasons, no bags are allowed in the arena, including transparent bags, fanny packs, handbags, backpacks, etc. The only exception is “medical reasons and diaper bags for children,” according to the Friends Arena stadium website.

“I’ve been avoiding spoilers,” says Andy Lindsey, standing in line wearing a brightly colored “Karma”-style coat. “I really want to see the set of ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ because that’s the latest.”

Lindsey traveled from Champaign, Illinois. Among the hundreds of spectators waiting for the doors to open for VIPs, there were no children under 13 due to a Swedish restriction.

“I think some of the music is thematically and linguistically inappropriate for anyone under 13,” says Lindsey. “The show is long. We’ve already been waiting in line for two hours and I think young children might get restless, so I think the age restriction is probably appropriate.”

About 20 people behind Lindsey was Raina Santucci.

“I’m so excited about the new set from the Tortured Poets Department,” says Santucci. “Oh my gosh, I’m excited to see them on the Roomba.”

The joke refers to Swift singing “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” from a floating platform. TikTok has turned the performance into hilarious Roomba jokes.

Santucci found the age restriction a bit harsh.

“I have a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old at home, and I know the 6-year-old wouldn’t be able to keep up,” she says, “but the 10-year-old really wants to see Taylor Swift. So I’m torn.”

Resale tickets on Stubhub.com have seen stalls seats priced at a shocking $100 to $170, and stadium seats have been sold for as little as $60. Resale tickets for the three American shows are priced in the four- to five-figure range.

Swift will perform three nights in Sweden before traveling to Lisbon, Portugal.

More: Taylor Swift adds surprise songs to every Eras Tour setlist. See all the songs she’s played so far

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This article originally appeared in the Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift fans divided over age restriction in Stockholm for Eras tour