DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP
Taylor Swift in Paris: her concerts in the capital also showed abuse of the sector in the United States (Images of fans waiting for the opening of La Défense Arena for Taylor Swift’s concert on May 10, 2024)
CULTURE – Crossing the US and the Atlantic Ocean to see Taylor Swift? No problem for tens of thousands of Americans as the international star wraps up a series of four concerts at La Défense Arena on Sunday, May 12 as part of his “Tour of Eras”. For some of them, it was much more beneficial for them to come here instead of paying for concert tickets in their country.
According to the organizers, 30% of the 42,000 spectators each evening are foreigners, of which 20% are Americans. Or 9,000 per evening, emphasizes The Parisian. “Tickets were really hard to get in the US”testifies to AFP the American Abby Shepard, who traveled from Denver to Paris, where the places are “much cheaper”. Tickets (excluding VIP package) are sold for between €69.50 and €245.50 in the French capital.
According to the European leader in online travel agencies Opodo quoted by The Parisian, Americans represented the first nationality looking for a flight to the capital (13%) ahead of Italians and Spaniards (9%) for the dates of Taylor Swift concerts. It recorded a 24% increase in searches for flights to Paris and 49% to Lyon. The capital of Gaul will host two concerts by the American singer on 2 and 3 June at the Groupama Stadium.
Cheaper to come and see TayTay and visit Paris than buying a concert ticket
“I couldn’t find a single ticket for less than $1,900,” testified to USA today a fan who came from Philadelphia for the May 11 concert.
“We waited and last week we saw that the tickets were $173 here in Paris, then we found flights for about $500. It was just financially more interesting to come here to see it and as a bonus to visit this amazing city that is Paris.” explains to the American media a mother accompanied by her young son before the concert.
Same story for this mother and her little daughter: “Tickets to Indianapolis cost about $5,000 each. For us to come here, pay for the hotel and buy the tickets, it cost us about $5,000, so half the price we would have had to pay for two tickets. »
“We didn’t even try to find tickets for the US tour, it’s too expensive, summarizes the mother. That’s why there are so many Americans here. The stay costs less with you than a ticket with us. We only paid 97 euros for our place. It gives us money to shop. » The average price for Taylor Swift in La Défense in France is 180 euros. That’s about double across the Atlantic.
The trap of resellers
Another one Swiftiewho came from Mexico, spent almost $3,000 to get to Paris because it would have been much more expensive to see Taylor Swift in Mexico or the United States, she explained at Brut’s microphone.
Taylor Swift concert ticket prices in the US aren’t all exorbitant, but unlike France, resale sites are legal across the Atlantic. This means that tickets can be resold for crazy sums. ” Up to 10,000 euros”, testify Parisian Hannah and Vicki, two New Yorkers aged 29 and 30. ” Here, the VIP package with goodies costs 400 euros. You understand why we take the opportunity to spend a week here, visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Palace of Versailles,” they emphasize.
Robert, 50 years old and coming with his sons from Dallas, also took a VIP package, he said Parisian. “We will be there for three days. The plane, the hotel and the ticket with you cost less than the concert with us. The math is done quickly. Thank you France!”.
At the beginning of June, Lyon must prepare to offer these thousands of Swifties Americans.
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