1. Germany town renames itself to ‘Taylor Swift Kirchen’
2. Swiftkirchen Germany changes name to ‘Taylor Swift Town’.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
BERLIN (AP) — The Swifties are gearing up for an unforgettable experience in the German city of Swiftkirchen, formerly known as Gelsenkirchen. American superstar Taylor Swift is all set to dazzle her fans with three spectacular Eras Tour concerts later this month.
In a gesture of warm welcome, the city has undergone a temporary transformation, renaming itself “Swiftkirchen” in anticipation of the tens of thousands of fans expected to flock to her shows on July 17, 18 and 19, as reported by German news agency dpa.
A bright yellow city sign bearing the new moniker — which roughly translates to “Swift’s Church” — was unveiled on Tuesday by devoted Swiftie, Aleshanee Westhoff. It was her idea to suggest the name to the city’s mayor and she even started a petition a few weeks ago. Mayor Karin Welge expressed her gratitude to the teenager for her “brilliant idea” in a letter accepting the proposal.
The Swiftie sign, adorned with a pink portrait of the pop icon, is prominently displayed in the city center. Additional signs will be erected “at highly frequented locations in Gelsenkirchen” over the next few days, according to city spokesman Markus Schwardtmann.
Gelsenkirchen, once a thriving coal mining town, now struggles as one of the poorest cities in Germany following the decline of its primary industry. However, the city is renowned for its soccer team and a colossal stadium that occasionally hosts international stars like Swift.
Excitement continues to build in Swiftkirchen as more surprises are unveiled.
In addition to the concerts, Taylor Swift will be honoured with her own stone on the Gelsenkirchen Walk of Fame, alongside local legends such as soccer coach Rudi Assauer and writer Ilse Kibgis. The city will also host open-air parties with karaoke performances during the concerts, and a “Taylor Swift streetcar” is already in operation, as reported by dpa.
Further fan-centric activities are in the pipeline and will be revealed in due course. “There will be a myriad of surprises both big and small for the Swifties to discover in Gelsenkirchen,” stated Schwardtmann.
The highly anticipated concerts in Gelsenkirchen are completely sold out and will be held at the Veltins-Arena on Schalke stadium, with a seating capacity of up to 70,000 Swifties. Additional Eras Tour shows are scheduled for Hamburg and Munich.
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1. Taylor Swift fan renames German town ‘Swiftkirchen’ in honor of pop star
2. German town changes name to ‘Swiftkirchen’ to pay tribute to Taylor Swift.