CINCINNATI — City officials gathered at The Banks along Cincinnati’s riverfront on Tuesday morning to outline plans for what’s expected to be a jam-packed weekend of major events, including two sold-out Taylor Swift concerts at Paycor Stadium.
The 20-minute press conference featured Mayor Aftab Pureval alongside leaders from the Cincinnati Police Department and local tourism and business industries. They discussed the months of preparation to get downtown ready to host hundreds of thousands of people in a relatively small area at the same time.
Topics included tips for getting downtown, along with stressing that people should arrive early and parents should plan to stick around and hang out themselves if they’re dropping off their children. Police Chief Teresa Theetge noted CPD officers will be on duty over the weekend, many of them on bike or foot patrols.
While Pureval and others acknowledged challenges, especially related to parking and traffic, they came together to share a simple and straightforward message: “Taylor Swift, Cincinnati is ready for you.”
“We’ve had events on this scale in the past even since I’ve been mayor,” said Pureval, who issued a proclamation declaring Friday, June 30 — the day of the first concert — as Taylor Swift Day in Cincinnati.
As an example, he cited last year’s Cincinnati Music Fest when all three stadiums — Great American Ball Park, TQL Stadium and Paycor Stadium — were full on the same night.
“We had a lot of congestion, a lot of traffic problems, (but) we’ve learned a lot from that experience and we’re hoping to deal with those congestion problems more efficiently this time,” the mayor said.
The city has coordinated with officials from Hamilton County, Covington and Newport across the Ohio River in Kentucky and a number of city departments to ensure all of the activities proceed smoothly, Pureval said.
Swift’s concerts will draw a combined audience of about 130,000 people over the two days. But citing recent Swift experiences in cities like Pittsburgh and Detroit, the region’s tourism board, Visit Cincinnati, believes thousands of other “Swifties” may flock to the area to experience the concert outside the venue.
The concerts aren’t the only major draw this weekend. Crowds around 40,000 people are expected on Friday and Saturday at Great American Ball Park for the Cincinnati Reds’ showdowns with the San Diego Padres. On Saturday, FC Cincinnati will host 25,000 or so fans a little over 2 miles away at TQL Stadium.
That doesn’t include performances at other performing arts venues and concert halls sprinkled throughout Cincinnati’s urban core.
Julie Calvert, president and CEO of Visit Cincy, stressed the weekend isn’t just bringing energy to the riverfront. It’s also bringing nearly $48 million in economic impact thanks to sold-out hotels and spending on items like food, beverage, transportation and retail, she said.
“The city is ready. This region is ready. All we need is Taylor Swift,” Calvert continued. “Bring her on.”
To accommodate the massive crowds, The Banks is hosting an official “Taygate” area on both Friday and Saturday. Plans call for food trucks and temporary beverage stations to accompany 20 permanent bars and restaurants located there. Smale Riverfront Park will also have entertainment.
The fan zone – which will include Swift-specific activities, such as a friendship bracelet making station – will operate from noon to 7 p.m. both days.
Gates at Paul Brown Stadium will open for the Swift concerts on Friday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. for general admission. VIP early entry starts at 3:30 p.m. at Gate E.
Duane Haring of the Cincinnati Bengals expected some fans to get in line well in advance. He indicated fans will need to have a ticket to get access to the plaza at Paycor Stadium. The shows begin at 6:30 p.m.
The Bengals, which operate Paycor Stadium, referred to the concerts as rain-or-shine events. There’s a lightning contingency plan in place, however, that could lead to a delay if the weather gets bad.
A merchandise shop will be open on Race Street south of Freedom Way next to the Andrew J. Brady Music Center Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Major League Baseball moved the start time of Friday’s Padres-Reds game to 5:10 p.m. because of the concert. The game on Saturday starts at 1:40 p.m.
“One thing we’ve been encouraging folks to do is if you are bringing friends and family down, just park once and stay,” said Tracy Schwegman, a spokesperson for The Banks district.
“We’ve got lots of establishments both here and throughout downtown that can accommodate you while your youngsters or your family and friends are enjoying the concert,” she added. “Come down, park, stay and have a plan to meet up with them afterward.”
Pureval echoed the message. Besides supporting local businesses, staying will break up the influx of people trying to get into downtown at one time, he explained. With large-scale events, traffic congestion is inevitable, but there are ways to make it manageable.
City officials have worked with Uber and Lyft to create a temporary pickup/drop-off zone on the western side of Paycor Stadium to avoid traffic backups.
The city is also implementing several strategic road closures, particularly around Second and Third Streets. Most of the road closures will be in place throughout the day. Drivers will have a similar experience exiting the concert as they do for Bengals games, Theetge said. Police officers will be on-site to help maintain safety for pedestrians and motorists.
Other suggestions included using public transportation. In Northern Kentucky, TANK is offering $1 rides on Friday and Saturday. The transit agency is also adding park-and-ride service from Northern Kentucky University both nights for $3 roundtrip.
Passenger service will go to the stadium from 3 to 7 p.m. The bus will make return trips to NKU between 7 p.m. and midnight.
For those looking to drive, Pureval suggested parking in Over-the-Rhine or Pendleton and taking the Connector streetcar to The Banks for free.
Parking lots and garages are available throughout downtown. The city warned that parking rates are subject to vary and increase on days of large events.
“Whether it’s Taygate or all the fantastic local businesses, restaurants and bars that we have here, come down in the early afternoon, avoid the traffic, and celebrate Cincinnati,” Pureval said.