Swifties assemble! Foxboro bracing for rush of Taylor Swift fans with 1st of 3 shows tonight

FOXBORO, Mass. — Swifties assemble!

They will be lining Route 1 marching into Gillette stadium for her three sold-out concerts starting tonight. Gillette is excited to host Taylor Swift over the next three nights. This was the first NFL stadium she played back in 2010.

Here are some quick things concertgoers need to know:

• Before you even leave your house, remember the bag policy. You can have a small clutch or a clear bag—Gillette has the measurements on its website.
• Lots open at 2:30 pm, gates open at 4:30 pm and the show starts at 6:30 pm.
• For parking, the stadium side is pre-paid pass only, which is sold out.
• MBTA trains are sold out.
• General parking on the opposite side is for ticket holders only. At Taylor’s other concerts, people have been coming to the arenas just to get close and listen. But officials say don’t do that here. They will be checking tickets at parking lots and walking to the stadium is not a safe option.

“We’re surrounded by route one and parking fields,” said Jim Nolan, the COO of Kraft Sports and Entertainment. “And those parking fields are used to accommodate the ticket holders. There’s just not a way to get to Gillette if you’re not parking at a legitimate lot. So again for the safety of everyone if you don’t have a ticket don’t come to Gillette.”

There is also construction still going on at this end zone and it will not have any impact on concertgoers. In fact, they’ve been able to open up more bathrooms just in time for the show. Nolan said the bathrooms at the south end--toward the stage and behind it are always underutilized.

Some fans didn’t get much sleep yesterday, and that’s because they camped out early for the coveted ‘merch’ truck. The big red Swiftie truck rolls out ahead of each concert, selling exclusive merchandise. Fans lined up before the sun came up Thursday, all to get their hands on anything that had the words Taylor Swift on it. Boston 25 News talked to a mom who dropped some serious cash on shirts and sweatshirts.

“We got into line, you guys showed up, and instantly my phone blew up and people have been Venmoing me all morning,” said Ellen Pearlman, a Taylor Swift fan. “Well I hope my husband is not listening but I’d say probably $1,000. It was totally worth it.”

People say they get the merchandise the day before so they don’t miss out on the actual show, waiting in line.

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