Compiled by: Emili TK
Remember Taylor Swift’s police motorcades during her six-show “Eras Tour” series in Toronto last month? Toronto Police revealed on Thursday that her sold-out performances, including the motorcade, cost the department approximately $1.9 million.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue compared the cost of each concert to what it takes to police a Toronto Raptors playoff game.
In mid-November, downtown Toronto was filled with thousands of “Swifties” dressed in dazzling outfits, flocking to the Rogers Centre to watch the singer-songwriter perform. Despite some skepticism, the “All Too Well” artist was escorted by a police motorcade along the Gardiner Expressway as she traveled to and from the concert venue.
Officers maintained a visible presence at the arena and surrounding areas, handed out friendship bracelets to fans, and established a command center to manage crowds and respond to service calls during the events.
“Our police presence was highly visible and vigilant around the Rogers Centre and the surrounding area, and we received many compliments on social media for the professionalism and positivity of our officers,” said Deputy Chief Pogue.
Pogue emphasized that the primary focus of the police service’s security planning was to protect the 282,000 concertgoers and the thousands of others who visited Toronto to celebrate the Eras Tour.
“In policing, crowds like these represent a massive ‘soft target,’ and our deployment strategy included sufficient personnel and measures to mitigate risks,” she said. She also noted that earlier in the year, three of Swift’s scheduled concerts in Vienna were canceled due to a foiled terror plot.
Deputy Chief Pogue highlighted the vibrant energy throughout the city during the concerts, describing it as “truly inspiring to directly engage with so many women and girls.” She added that the event provided an opportunity for recruitment, particularly targeting women.
“With this goal in mind, I invited 25 female officers to engage with Swift fans and discuss career opportunities for women at the Toronto Police Service,” Pogue concluded.
