After experiencing a surge of fans rushing towards the front rows during the March 2nd show, the organizers have set up barriers to ensure a safe experience for fans at the remaining Taylor Swift concerts in Singapore.
According to the Strait Times, security measures have been tightened at the National Stadium following reports of pushing and overcrowding during Taylor Swift’s concerts on March 2nd and 4th.
Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), the entity managing the National Stadium, along with other departments of the Singapore Sports Hub, stated that barriers have been set up near the stage, across the premium seating areas, and along the aisles.
“We were aware of the incidents under the stands, where fans became over-excited and rushed towards the seats near the stage. Upon observation, we instructed the security team to guide them back to their seats. We are committed to ensuring that the upcoming concerts provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the audience,” a representative from the National Stadium Singapore stated.
The overcrowding and seat-snatching during Taylor Swift’s 55,000-attendee show has left VIP ticket holders feeling frustrated.
At the Eras Tour in Singapore, the most expensive tickets with the best views are priced from $1,228 USD and up. Behind them are tickets priced at $628, $348, and $328 USD with less optimal views. On the first night, the overcrowding led to resentment among those with higher-priced tickets.
Alina, a 23-year-old who purchased the highest-tier tickets, stated that fans from other sections kept rushing onto the stage while Taylor was performing the song “Speak Now” (midway through the concert). She expressed disappointment with the security team’s handling of the situation.
“At times, I found it hard to breathe due to the constant influx of people. Instead of instructing them to return to their seats, security personnel even pushed the crowd into our seats, which shouldn’t have happened,” Alina said.
Alina mentioned that a woman even reached out and touched her due to the pushing from the crowd behind her. When the 23-year-old responded to the security team, they didn’t know how to resolve the issue.
“I felt scared by the overcrowding and seat-snatching. I was even disappointed because I couldn’t fully enjoy the concert,” Alina added.
Perry Cooper Hung, a male attendee from Taiwan, China, shared his disappointing experience at the Singapore concert on X. “I thought the Eras Tour in Singapore would be the best day ever, but it wasn’t. I was sitting in VIP1, and the person behind me kept pushing me until I almost lost my seat,” Hung said.
He mentioned that the stadium was hot at that time, and he started feeling nauseous due to the overcrowding. When he approached the nearby security staff, they simply said, “There’s nothing we can do.”
Taylor Swift held six concerts in Singapore (March 2-9), with approximately 55,000 attendees each night. As this is the singer’s exclusive performance venue in Southeast Asia, economists estimate that Singapore’s tourism revenue will increase by up to $500 million USD.
