No ‘Tayl-gating’: Wembley Stadium Not Allowing Taylor Swift Fans To Gather Outside

Wembley Stadium bolstered its security and safety with additional restrictions as it welcomes Taylor Swift for five nights and will not allow fans without a ticket to gather outside of the 90,000-capacity building.

The stadium’s website stated that overnight camping, which some fans have done in the past to secure a spot in line for merchandise, is not permitted, and “no one is allowed to stand outside any entrance or on the Olympic Steps at the front of the stadium.” Fans without a ticket “will be moved on.”

Wembley updated the site to include additional restrictions following last week’s arrests of two individuals suspected of planning a terrorist attack at Swift’s concerts in Vienna, Austria. The alleged terrorist threat prompted promoter Barracuda Music to cancel Swift’s three shows at Ernst Happel Stadion for fans’ safety. Swift has yet to comment on the threat and cancelation of her shows.

“What the public needs to know and understand is that obviously this was disrupted before it occurred, which is a good thing,” Mike Downing, chief security officer with Oak View Group’s Prevent Advisors, told Pollstar. “And we need to continue to be vigilant against these threats, not to be over-anxious or paranoid about it but learn how we can all participate in preventing these things from happening because everybody has a role. It’s not just law enforcement. It’s not just intelligence agencies, but it’s communities, it’s management, it’s artists, it’s fans. It’s everybody put together. That’s the best way that we can defend against this and not be paralyzed in fear, but know what to do, how to report and how to act.”

In addition, Wembley will look to improve entry flow by opening its doors earlier, allowing people to get in as early as 3:30 p.m. on select dates.

London Metropolitan Police told USA Today that “there is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London.”

Swifties, a term for the popstar’s devoted fans, who were unable to secure tickets are known to gather outside the venues to get a taste of her live performances, a practice coined as “Tayl-gating.” Viral social media posts showed fans swarming the lawn outside Chicago’s Soldier Field last year and singing along to the concert occurring inside the venue. At Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 fans hung out outside the building to soak in the atmosphere tied to Swift’s performances in the Steel City back in June of 2023.