Title: Taylor Swift Breaks Curfew at Levi’s Stadium, Ignoring Noise Ordinance
By Aidin Waziri
July 29, 2023
Santa Clara, Calif. – The home of the San Francisco 49ers, Levi’s Stadium, found itself yet again grappling with noise issues as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert ran well past the permitted curfew on Friday night. Swift’s disregard for the strict noise ordinance that requires the stadium to go dark at 11 p.m. became a familiar scene, following in the footsteps of previous artists who have violated the curfew.
In a partial concession to event organizers, the Santa Clara City Council had recently decided to allow up to five non-NFL events each year to extend their runtime until 11 p.m. However, Swift’s performance, known for its length and extravagant set changes, exceeded the extended curfew time.
Despite being well aware of the time restrictions, Swift kicked off the night by introducing the first surprise song, “Right Where You Left Me,” along with long-time collaborator Aaron Dessner. Ignoring the ticking clock, she continued the set with another surprise number, “Castles Crumbling,” disregarding the curfew altogether. It marked the first time Swift had performed the song live.
The late start time for the show could be attributed to the overwhelming number of fans waiting to enter the venue. The gates opened at 4:30 p.m., and approximately 58,000 attendees lined up around the parking lot, leading to delays. Coupled with the elaborate costume and set changes associated with the Eras Tour, it became challenging for Swift to adhere to the schedule.
Addressing the crowd, Swift expressed her excitement to perform in the Bay Area after five long years. Despite the potential repercussions, Swift seemed unfazed by the possibility of fines. Resale tickets for the Eras Tour concert were reportedly selling for as much as $45,000 each on the day of the event.
Swift’s performance, which started at 8:10 p.m., continued until approximately 11:37 p.m., well beyond the permitted time. The standout moment of the evening came after Swift performed “Champagne Problems” from her album “Evermore.” The crowd’s standing ovation lasted for more than three minutes, moving the singer close to tears. Swift even pulled out her in-ear monitors to fully immerse herself in the thunderous applause.
Another notable moment occurred during her rendition of “Long Live,” when fireworks from the neighboring amusement park Great America coincidentally lit up the sky. The display continued as Swift transitioned into her “Red” era, culminating during her performance of “We Are Never Getting Back Together.”
While the city of Santa Clara might have experienced a breach of the noise ordinance, it may count itself lucky. During recent tour stops in Seattle, Swift’s devoted fans generated enough excitement to unintentionally cause a magnitude 2.3 earthquake.
Taylor Swift is scheduled to perform a second sold-out concert at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, July 29.
Disclaimer: Time.news staff writers Zara Irshad and Claire Hao contributed to this report.
For more information, contact: Aidin Waziri – [email protected].