Residents of Foxboro, Massachusetts, and surrounding cities and towns are bracing for much heavier traffic delays this weekend than any typical sporting event held at Gillette Stadium. That's because Taylor Swift is here.
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour kicks off Friday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Thousands of fans -- decked out in themed outfits and even a banana costume -- were pouring into the stadium around rush hour Friday. And on the off chance that you haven't heard, there's no shortage of signs warning you about the expected traffic.
"For concerts, it's a completely different group of people. Lots of them have never been here before, they don't know where they're going," Ann-Marie English said. "It's gridlock."
Residents in town plan on hunkering down for the next few days but they say there's no bad blood because they're used to it by now.
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Fans are flocking in from all over, including one couple from Canada who said they're just hoping their car doesn't get towed while they're at the concert. But if it does, they say they'll just shake it off.
Some friends from New Hampshire said they've been planning this for months.
Among those in attendance Friday night was Jenna Bush Hager and her family. The co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna shared pictures to her Instagram account that showed her with her husband, Henry, and their two daughters, Mila, 10, and Poppy, 7. Jenna and her daughters wore matching T-shirts with “Swift 89” emblazoned on the front, a reference to Swift’s "1989" album.
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From themed outfits to Taylor Swift cupcakes, businesses are also hoping to cash in on the crowds, having this date circled on their calendar for months, ever since the concert was first announced.
"When there's 100,000 people in town, it definitely brings an uptick in business for sure," said Union Straw general manager Craig Carreira.
And Taylor Swift's highly-anticipated concert is not the only event that's slated to bring people into town, wreaking havoc on our roadways. Just over 10 miles away, Janet Jackson took the stage at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield.
In Boston, the Celtics faced off -- and lost -- against the Miami Heat at TD Garden Friday night for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Foxboro Police had warned that the intersection of Route 1 and North Street would be closed at some point Friday due to the anticipated traffic congestion, with drivers only able to take a right turn.
On their Facebook page, the department recommended concertgoers take Interstate 495 and Interstate 95 to get to Gillette Stadium.
"Chaos. That's all I'm expecting," said Eddie Feldman, a Foxboro High School senior.
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Feldman was one of many locals who grabbed last-minute resident passes at the police station so they could better move through traffic checkpoints.
"I picked it up because there's just going to be a lot of traffic," he said.
He added that driving will be a necessity in order to get to and from his high school prom on Saturday.
"Probably getting back will be harder because it ends at the same time Taylor Swift ends," he said.
"I stay away from here with a 10-foot pole on route 1 as a local resident," said Steve Udden. "We've seen it all here in Foxboro, but my recommendation would be to stay off your cellphones and really pay attention."
"I'll be avoiding this entire area from Norwood all the way to Providence," said Dedham resident Peter McManus.
Even a local Dunkin on Route 1 plans to add extra staff to handle the crowds.
"I know for a fact we're getting slammed. I worked a concert last year," said April Nisil, a Dunkin employee.
"There's probably going to be nowhere to walk in here," added her coworker, Ashley McCormick. "It's going to be that hectic."
