South Australia snubbed once again

If you’ve been on the internet within the past week, have teenagers in your life or would consider yourself a ‘Swiftie’, you’re aware of the mania taking over the country right now.

Taylor Swift announced her Australian Eras Tour dates in the early hours of June 21, with tickets going on sale today; but only in two major cities across Australia and New Zealand.

Melbourne’s MCG will host two shows, and Sydney’s Accor Arena will host three.

It comes as no surprise to Adelaide fans of the pop sensation that Swift missed us completely, as she famously performs in large venues… something the Melbourne and Sydney venues tick the box on.

Adelaide’s largest venue is the Adelaide Oval, with a capacity of 53,500, which is predominantly for sports events, while the Adelaide Entertainment Centre’s capacity is around 11,000.

The MCG has a capacity of 100,000 and the Accor has a capacity of 83,500; a significant increase from our biggest venue’s capacity.

With SA governments and councils focusing on sporting events like Gather Round, there has been funding allocated for new sporting hubs and major renovations, to help bring these events to our state.

The state has been successful in landing Gather Round once again, and will reap the benefits of what this event will bring.

If only SA could now look at how to improve, build, or expand on its concert, arts and performing venues to land names like Taylor Swift, we could potentially bring the biggest stars into our backyard instead of being snubbed.

Fans of Swift, and other big names who fly right past SA, have to fork out hundreds if not thousands of dollars to travel interstate, when that money could be feeding right back into our businesses and communities.

Plus, how great would it be to see Taylor Swift in our home city?