Taylor Swift’s trip to Germany has given a city her name – at least for a few weeks

Student Aleshanee Westhoff shows a town sign reading “Swiftkirchen” in honor of musician Taylor Swift in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The Swifties will soon take over the German city of Gelsenkirchen, where American superstar Taylor Swift will perform three concerts of her Eras Tour later this month. In honor of the singer, the city has renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” – at least temporarily, to welcome the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend the Eras Tour concerts on July 17, 18 and 19, German news agency dpa reported. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — The Swifties will soon take over the German city formerly known as Gelsenkirchen, where American superstar Taylor Swift will perform three concerts of her “Eras Tour” later this month.

In honor of the singer, the city has renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” – at least temporarily – to welcome the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend her concerts on July 17, 18 and 19, reported German news agency dpa.

A yellow town sign bearing the new name – which roughly translates to “Swift’s Church” – was unveiled on Tuesday by Swift fan Aleshanee Westhoff, who suggested the name to the town’s mayor and started a petition several weeks ago. Mayor Karin Welge thanked the teenager for her “great idea” in a letter accepting the suggestion.

The Swiftie sign features a pink portrait of the pop icon and is located in the city center. Several other signs “in highly frequented locations in Gelsenkirchen” are to be put up in the next few days, city spokesman Markus Schwardtmann told the dpa.

Gelsenkirchen is one of Germany’s poorest cities. It is a former coal mining town that has never recovered from the decline of its main industry. The Ruhr city is known for its football team and a huge stadium that occasionally attracts international entertainers like Swift.

And there’s more to come in Germany’s Swiftie city.

The US singer will also receive her own stone on Gelsenkirchen’s Walk of Fame, alongside local celebrities such as football coach Rudi Assauer and writer Ilse Kibgis. During her concerts, there will be open-air parties with karaoke performances in the city. A “Taylor Swift tram” is already in operation, reported the dpa.

Further fan attractions are being planned, but are being kept secret for the time being. “There will be many small and large surprises, so there will be a lot for the Swifties in Gelsenkirchen to discover,” says Schwardtmann.

Swift’s concerts in Gelsenkirchen are sold out and will take place in the Veltins Arena in Schalke, which has space for up to 70,000 Swifties. Further shows on the Eras Tour are planned in Hamburg and Munich.