Sparks fly as Canadians descend on Seattle for Taylor Swift concerts, Blue Jays games this weekend
CBC
It's going to be a busy weekend in Seattle (Taylor's Version).
Between Taylor Swift's Eras tour and Canada's only MLB team taking on the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series, Canadians are flocking to the city south of the border.
Kara Passey of Vancouver is leaving for Seattle early Friday morning, with plans to take in both a baseball game and what The Rolling Stone has described as Swift's best tour ever "by an absurd margin."
"I've been a Blue Jays fan, and honestly a Taylor Swift fan for even longer," she told On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko.
"The stars are really aligning."
Earlier this year it was announced that Swift's Eras tour would not include any Canadian stops, much to the dismay of fans.
Still, for many, it wasn't enough to create bad blood and dedicated Swifties across Canada decided to shake it off, purchasing tickets for shows out of country instead.
Whenever the Toronto Blue Jays play in Seattle, a horde of baseball fans crosses the border to see the Canadian team take the pitch — the drive from Vancouver to Seattle only takes about three hours, if the border isn't too busy.
A flight to Toronto, on the other hand, lasts four-and-a-half hours, plus all the time travelling to and from the airport, and waiting for the plane to take off.
Michael Woody, senior vice president community engagement and public affairs for Visit Seattle, said he's expecting "an elevated number" of Canadians — and their money — in town this weekend, and they're ready for it.
"It's a perfect setup to be record-breaking this weekend," he said.
"We have high hopes for a very successful weekend."
He said "a number" of hotels are sold out.
Blake McCorquodale, who's also driving down to Seattle from Maple Ridge, B.C., this weekend, has been a Swiftie since 2006.
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