Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 20, 2026

The Taylor Swift economy motors on

The Taylor Swift economy motors on

Analysts say Swift's US Eras Tour could generate $642 million to $728 million

The ongoing Eras Tour has not just been lucrative for Taylor Swift – the economies of the cities that she has stopped at have massively financially benefited as well.

The songstress has just under half of her 52 scheduled tour dates under her belt so far, most recently singing her hits to fans at three sold-out stadium shows in Foxborough, Massachusetts, over the past weekend. For one of those concerts, a father said he spent $21,000 on a reseller site to get four tickets for his daughter and her friends after a ticketing issue.

Swift’s sold-out performances at Foxborough had been preceded by the same for her three shows in Nashville, Tennessee, and her three dates in Philadelphia.

John Simson, the director of the business and entertainment program at American University’s Kogod School of Business Management Department, told FOX Business her tour is having a "huge effect" on local economies, noting there is "maybe a handful of artists who are at that level where people are willing to essentially buy a ticket wherever they can and then travel," including her.

He pointed to a Live Nation-commissioned Oxford Economics study, published in 2021, that said live events such as concerts brought $55.2 billion of direct spending to local economies overall in pre-COVID 2019, $32.6 billion of which came from visiting overnight attendees and daytrippers. It also said a $100 purchase of a concert ticket by a non-local attendee would come with about $330 in spending in the local economy.

"So double that [per-ticket additional spending] for Taylor because obviously the ticket prices are at least $200 on average, maybe even higher from all the reports," Simson said.

Some local sectors of the economy that have benefited from Swift being in town include restaurants, hotels, transportation and recreation.

Local museums, clubs, malls and other venues also see positive impact from spending that coincides with Swift’s tour, according to Simson. Other concerts in town can as well.

"The other factor that may impact this is when you have a show in Foxborough, it’s very different than if you have a show that’s in the city because obviously there’s way more in terms of restaurants and other things to do," Simson said. "Like if you went to Taylor Swift in Nashville, maybe you’d go to the Wildhorse Saloon or the Grand Ole Opry. You’d make a trip of it, and you’d add two or three more things."

Nearly 212,000 total people attended Swift’s three shows in Nashville, including some 71,000 on May 7, according to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC). Per the organization, attendance records were set on a single-event and weekend basis for Nissan Stadium.

Guests attend night three of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Nissan Stadium on May 7, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.


"As an anchor of a star-studded weekend in Music City, Nashville’s hotel occupancy rate reached a staggering 97% at the peak of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour," Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ralph Schulz said in a statement to FOX Business. "With three sold-out concerts, the tour generated tens of millions in direct visitor spending, boosting local businesses and supporting job growth, while also showcasing Nashville as a premier destination for music enthusiasts worldwide."

Nashville had other events that weekend, including a brewing-related convention, a show by Janet Jackson and three nights of stand-up from Trevor Noah, according to the NCVC. Three universities also had graduations, one of which Oprah Winfrey delivered the commencement at.

In other cities like Phoenix, Houston and Tampa, Florida, hotels saw notably high occupancy rates on the weekends Swift performed, according to local reports.

What a musician makes per-show on tour varies, as each out "has different economics," Simson said.

Many artists have various people like agents, managers and business managers they work with that each take percentages from the shows, he explained. He said the performers get to renegotiate such terms to "make them more reasonable" as they become more popular.

The number of tickets sold, their prices and the capacity of the venue also factor in.

"I would think $5-6 million grosses are probably in the ballpark of what [Swift] is doing right now," Simson said.

Swift’s entire U.S. Eras Tour could generate $642 million to $728 million, according to a March estimate from music industry publication Pollstar.

Fans will next see the singer in East Rutherford, New Jersey for a trio of dates starting Friday.

Taylor Swift performs onstage for night three of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Nissan Stadium on May 7, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Swift’s three-hour-long concerts, her first since 2018, feature "Shake it Off," "Fearless" and a slew of other hits, plus two surprise songs, according to reports. Many fans who could not land tickets have "Taylor-gated" outside the stadiums to hear her live.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Reports Drone Strike on Key Red Sea Refinery in Yanbu
United States Urges Citizens to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Regional Conflict
Former Media Executive Chronicles Rise of Saudi Crown Prince in New Book
Saudi Aramco–Exxon Refinery in Yanbu Targeted in Latest Wave of Iranian Attacks
Greek-Operated Patriot System Intercepts Iranian Missiles Over Saudi Arabia
Asian Refiners Urge Saudi Arabia to Revise Oil Pricing as War Upends Markets
Arab and Muslim Ministers Convene in Riyadh to Coordinate Response to Iran Crisis
Saudi Arabia Expands Global Partnerships to Accelerate Vision 2030 Transformation
Europe and Japan Signal Readiness to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Crisis
Saudi Arabia Signals Firm Stance as Iranian-Linked Attacks Intensify
U.S. Lawmakers Press Rubio to Enforce Strong Safeguards in Saudi Nuclear Deal
Iran Issues Evacuation Warning to Gulf States After Strike on Major Gas Field
Saudi Arabia to Convene Arab and Islamic Ministers for Urgent Talks on Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Confirms Eid al-Fitr as Moon Sighting Determines End of Ramadan
Saudi Arabia Boosts Crude Exports to Highest Levels Since 2023, Data Shows
Iran Issues Warning to Gulf Energy Infrastructure Following Strike on Major Gas Field
Saudi Arabia Restarts Ras Tanura Refinery Following Drone Strike, Reinforcing Energy Resilience
Saudi Arabia Restarts Ras Tanura Refinery Following Drone Strike, Reinforcing Energy Resilience
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Ballistic Missiles Targeting Riyadh Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Restores Significant Oil Flows Using Hormuz Bypass Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Signals Potential Activation of Defence Pact with Pakistan Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Saudi Supreme Court Urges Muslims to Observe Crescent Moon for Eid Determination
Saudi Supreme Court Urges Muslims to Observe Crescent Moon for Eid Determination
Saudi Arabia Reassesses Iran Strategy as Regional Conflict Tests MBS’s Diplomatic Bet
Iran Steps Up Drone Strikes on Saudi Oil Sites, Heightening Risks to Global Supply
Regional Fallout Grows as Iran Conflict Sends Shockwaves Across Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Seven Drones in Intensifying Regional Security Threat
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Seven Drones in Intensifying Regional Security Threat
Saudi Arabia Weighs Regional Risks as Iran Conflict Deepens and Security Calculations Shift
Gulf States Confront Limits of U.S. Protection as Regional War Intensifies
Gulf Producers Rush to Reroute Oil Exports as Iran Tightens Control of Hormuz Strait
Saudi Gaming Investment Arm Acquires Strategic Stake in Capcom to Expand Global Influence
Iran Intensifies Strikes on Saudi Oil Infrastructure as Regional War Escalates
Saudi Arabia Targets South African Professionals in New Recruitment Drive Amid Regional Uncertainty
Formula One Faces Major Financial Hit as Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Cancelled Amid Middle East Conflict
U.S. and Saudi Firms Launch Local Production of Attritable Drone Systems in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia and UAE Warn Rising Gulf Tensions Could Endanger Regional Security
Saudi Arabia Rejects Claims It Encouraged Prolonged War With Iran
Saudi Arabia to Host World’s Largest Single-Cell Protein Plant as Food Security Push Accelerates
Saudi Crown Prince Urges Trump to Continue Military Pressure on Iran
Iran Intensifies Drone Campaign Against Saudi Arabia as Gulf Conflict Escalates
When Is Eid al-Fitr 2026? Saudi Arabia Awaits Moon Sighting to Confirm End of Ramadan
When Is Eid al-Fitr 2026? Saudi Arabia Awaits Moon Sighting to Confirm End of Ramadan
Iranian Missile Strike Damages Five U.S. Refueling Aircraft at Saudi Air Base
Iranian Missile Strike Damages Five U.S. Refueling Aircraft at Saudi Air Base
Washington State Pilot Among Six U.S. Airmen Killed in Military Aircraft Crash Over Iraq
Severe Storm Threat Looms Over Washington as Tornado Risk and Damaging Winds Target Mid-Atlantic
Trump Supports FCC Warning to Broadcasters Over Iran War Reporting
Trump Supports FCC Warning to Broadcasters Over Iran War Reporting
Saudi Stocks Edge Lower as Tadawul All Share Index Slips Slightly at Market Close
×