As Toronto enters its Taylor Swift era, experts say crowd safety depends on planning
Toronto is gearing up for a historic week as Taylor Swift brings her record-breaking Eras Tour to the city. With up to 500,000 fans expected to flock to Rogers Centre for six sold-out concerts, crowd safety and efficient traffic management have become top priorities. Experts are urging the city to take additional precautions to ensure a smooth experience for both concertgoers and residents.
From November 14 to 16 and again from November 21 to 23, Swifties will descend on Toronto’s downtown core, creating a bustling atmosphere that experts predict will lead to severe congestion and potential safety risks. The city’s plans for road closures, increased security, and traffic measures are set in place, but crowd management professionals are warning that flexibility and preparedness will be crucial.
Kevin Kennedy, a crowd safety specialist and owner of Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions, stresses the importance of understanding how quickly crowd dynamics can shift. He notes that while Taylor Swift’s fans are generally compliant and supportive, emergencies can arise, leading to panic. “A situation can occur that changes the dynamic right away,” Kennedy explains. “In an emergency, follow the direction of people in charge. It’s especially important for families to have safety plans in place, especially when attending such large events.”
With safety top of mind, Kennedy advises parents to ensure their children understand the importance of staying calm and moving away from dangerous situations if necessary. “It’s not worth the injury to get too close to the chaos,” he adds.
In preparation for the large crowds, Toronto has established several safety contingencies, including the activation of an emergency operations center during the concerts. Toronto Police will maintain a significant presence, both inside and outside the venue, though Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue has noted that operational details will remain confidential.
As for traffic, the city has imposed various measures to alleviate congestion. Starting at 2 p.m. on concert days, key streets surrounding Rogers Centre, such as Bremner Boulevard and Blue Jays Way, will be restricted to local traffic only. Drop-off and pickup zones will be designated for concertgoers, and traffic agents will be stationed throughout the area to help manage the flow. Additional road closures will occur after the concerts, with the aim to reopen everything by 1 a.m. However, the city has indicated that further closures may be necessary depending on crowd conditions.
While these measures address show nights, Professor Amer Shalaby of the University of Toronto urges the city to consider traffic restrictions throughout the entirety of Swift’s tour dates, not just on concert nights. “If the roads are only closed on show nights, the surrounding days will still see an influx of people,” Shalaby warns. He highlights the current difficulties in navigating Toronto’s traffic, especially on weekends, and predicts a nightmare scenario if adequate measures aren’t taken during the extended tour period.
Shalaby advises drivers to rethink their plans during this period and consider alternatives like public transit. “Informed choices are crucial,” he adds. “If people know what to expect, they can make better decisions about how to navigate the city.”
Ultimately, the key to a smooth Eras Tour in Toronto lies in clear communication and coordination between city officials, security teams, and event organizers. As Kennedy points out, Toronto is no stranger to managing large crowds, but the high demand during this superstar concert series will require exceptional planning and execution. “Everybody on the ground needs to know their roles and responsibilities,” he concludes.
With Swift’s concerts drawing in tens of thousands of fans, it is clear that Toronto’s infrastructure and crowd management strategies will be put to the test. As the city prepares to welcome one of the biggest cultural events of the year, officials and experts alike are calling for transparency and thorough planning to ensure safety for all.
Source : The Canadian Press
