In anticipation of Taylor Swift’s upcoming concerts in Gelsenkirchen, a German city has temporarily changed its name to “Swiftkirchen”. To celebrate the arrival of the pop icon and her devoted fans, yellow street signs with the new name and a pink portrait of Taylor Swift have been placed in the city center, with more to come in popular locations. The excitement is palpable as Swifties prepare for the world’s biggest music star to grace their city with three unforgettable performances later this month.
As the city braces for an influx of fans flocking to see her upcoming shows in July, a new name has been created in honor of the pop star. The term “Swiftkirchen”, meaning “Swift’s Church”, was officially introduced with the unveiling of a bright yellow street sign. This idea was brought to life by young fan Aleshanee Westhoff, known as a dedicated Swiftie, who proposed the name to the city’s mayor and even launched a petition to make it happen.
Mayor Welge expressed gratitude to the teen for her “fantastic suggestion” in a letter approving the proposal. The bright yellow sign, adorned with a pink portrait of the beloved music artist, has been installed in the downtown area, with plans for more to be placed in popular spots around the city, as confirmed by city spokesperson Markus Schwardtmann in a statement to the dpa news agency.
Gelsenkirchen, a city in Germany known for its struggling economy due to the decline of coal mining, is most famously home to the football team Schalke and a large stadium that hosts international acts such as Taylor Swift from time to time.
The artist will soon have her own marker on the Gelsenkirchen Walk of Fame, joining other prominent figures from the area such as football coach Rudi Assauer and writer Ilse Kibgis. Additionally, the city will be throwing open-air parties with karaoke sessions during the singer’s concerts. And if you need a ride to the concert, you can hop on the “Taylor Swift streetcar” that’s now in operation, according to dpa.
Additional fan activities are currently in the works but are being kept under wraps for now. “There will be a mix of exciting surprises for Swifties to uncover in Gelsenkirchen,” Mr. Schwardtmann revealed.
The upcoming Swift concerts in Gelsenkirchen have already sold out and will be held at the Veltins-Arena, with a capacity for up to 70,000 fans. More Eras Tour performances are also scheduled for Hamburg and Munich.
