Fans ‘Tay-gate’ outside Paycor Stadium on night one of Taylor Swift shows in Cincinnati

MIKE. ALL RIGHT, FANS SHAKING IT OFF RIGHT NOW. PACKER STADIUM, THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT IN FULL SWING RIGHT NOW, BUILDING UP TO THE GRAND FINALE TONIGHT, MAYBE AT 11 OR A LITTLE BIT LATER. WLWT NEWS 5. CHRIS JACOBS DOWN THERE AT THE SHOW RIGHT NOW. HI, CHRIS. HEY, MIKE. HOW’S IT GOING? YEAH, I’M MISSING MY COWBOY HAT. THAT I HAD ON EARLIER, BUT FORTUNATELY, WE’VE ADDED SOME STUFF TO THE COLLECTION. WE’VE HAD MORE OF THESE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE WRIST. I’M STILL WORKING ON GETTING THE FULL SLEEVE, SO WE’LL SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE. BUT YOU’RE RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT? REDS FANS, SWIFT FANS CLASHING AT THE BANKS, NOT REALLY A CLASH. I MEAN, EVERYBODY’S BEEN SO FRIENDLY HERE. EVERYBODY’S EXCITED TO BE HERE. AND WHY WOULDN’T THEY BE? TAYLOR SWIFT PERFORMING 4445 SONGS, GIVING THOSE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TYPE PERFORMANCES WITH THREE AND A HALF HOUR PERFORMANCES. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WE TALKED TO FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO THE CONCERT FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE WAITING OUTSIDE WAS REALLY HAPPY TO BE THERE. IT DIDN’T MATTER WHERE MATTER WHETHER THEY HAD A SEAT INSIDE OR JUST LISTENING FROM THE OUTSIDE, EVERYBODY WAS JUST EXCITED. AND THEY SAID THE TAYLOR SWIFT COMMUNITY IS ONE ALL ABOUT UNISON AND ALL ABOUT COMING TOGETHER. AND WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE EARLIER TODAY. THEY SAID THAT TAYLOR SWIFT’S MUSIC HAS HELPED THEM GET THROUGH TRAUMA. THEY SAID IT’S HELPED THEM IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT TAYLOR SWIFT HAS MEANT A LOT TO SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AND SO MANY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ACTUALLY, NOT JUST ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT THE EXCITEMENT HERE IS CERTAINLY VERY LOUD. AND YOU CAN HEAR OR YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL FILING OUT FROM SOME OF THE REDS ACTIVITY AND PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT, I THINK AT THE STADIUM AT PACKER. AND THEY’RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE WHOLE SWIFT AND ANTI THE SWIFT INVASION, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IT’S GOTTEN ABOUT TEN SEPARATE NAMES RIGHT NOW. BUT WE’RE GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. MIKE YEAH, THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND BEING A BIG SINGER LIKE THAT IS YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE. THERE’S NO DOUBT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT AND SOME OF THE HELP SHE’S PROVIDED FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, SHE’S DEFINITELY DOING THAT. PEOPLE REMEMBER HER SONGS AND THEY MEAN SOMETHING TO THEM. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THEY CERTAINLY HAVE MEANT QUITE A BIT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT YOU KNOW, IT’S ALL ABOUT A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FROM WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING. IT’S REALLY EXCITING STUFF FOR THEM. THEY’RE HAPPY THAT TAYLOR SWIFT HAS COME TO CINCINNATI AND SOME OF THEM COMING FROM AREAS AROUND HERE. WE SAW SOMEBODY EARLIER TODAY WHO DROVE UP FROM NEW ORLEANS JUST TO SEE THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT IN CINCINNATI. SO YOU CAN SEE THIS BIG PILE OF UNISON, REALLY, THAT’S HAPPENING IN CINCINNATI. IT’S HAPPENING AT PACKER AND IT’S HAPPENING AT THE BANKS RIGHT NOW. ALL RIGHT. CHRIS JACOBS LIVE FOR US TONIGHT ON CONCERT WATCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Fans 'Tay-gate' outside Paycor Stadium on night one of Taylor Swift shows in Cincinnati

Updated: 11:15 PM EDT Jun 30, 2023

Taylor Swift held her first Eras Tour concert in Cincinnati Friday night.The stadium and streets of downtown were packed with fans waiting to see the singer.Those who didn't get tickets spent the night "Tay-gating" setting up chairs and blankets outside Paycor Stadium for a chance to hear the singer perform from outside. Swifties traveled in from around the country and even the world to see the singer.Many of them started the party early at the "Swiftinnati" party at The Banks.There are live DJs, food trucks, makeup artists, friendship bracelet stations and merchandise for sale.For some, this is their first concert.For others, it's their fifth or sixth.But regardless if you're a new Swiftie or a lifelong listener, fans say the excitement surrounding the concert is something they've never experienced."I've loved Taylor Swift since I was really young. Me and my sister always loved her," said Alee White, from Kentucky."With Red, it was one of the first ones I ever listened to. I have so many memories of my grandma rocking me in the hammock while Starlight would be playing, and then Reputation was so exciting and such a big time to be a Taylor Swift fan and also so stressful just hearing that music. It was like, oh my gosh, this is phenomenal," Evie Grimmitt said.

CINCINNATI —

Taylor Swift held her first Eras Tour concert in Cincinnati Friday night.

The stadium and streets of downtown were packed with fans waiting to see the singer.

Those who didn't get tickets spent the night "Tay-gating" setting up chairs and blankets outside Paycor Stadium for a chance to hear the singer perform from outside.

Swifties traveled in from around the country and even the world to see the singer.

Many of them started the party early at the "Swiftinnati" party at The Banks.

There are live DJs, food trucks, makeup artists, friendship bracelet stations and merchandise for sale.

For some, this is their first concert.

For others, it's their fifth or sixth.

But regardless if you're a new Swiftie or a lifelong listener, fans say the excitement surrounding the concert is something they've never experienced.

"I've loved Taylor Swift since I was really young. Me and my sister always loved her," said Alee White, from Kentucky.

"With Red, it was one of the first ones I ever listened to. I have so many memories of my grandma rocking me in the hammock while Starlight would be playing, and then Reputation was so exciting and such a big time to be a Taylor Swift fan and also so stressful just hearing that music. It was like, oh my gosh, this is phenomenal," Evie Grimmitt said.