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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1515520
An Eras Tour concert runs about 3 hours and 15 minutes, with 44 songs on average. 12 O n t h e R a d a r : P a o l o V ill a n u e v a , i S t o c k / K R d e s i g n , A d o b e S t o c k /a n u w a t B C B U S I N E S S . C A M A R C H 2 0 24 NO BODY, NO CRIME Don't blame her—demand is high, supply is low. Here are the numbers ON THE RADAR of seeing the 12-time Grammy award winner. "This is an opportunity for brand recognition for Vancou- ver as a destination," confirms Westcott. She explains that beyond making an impression on in-person visitors—both local and international—B.C. businesses have the potential to reach new markets via social media. Fans posting about the concert might just be brag- ging about their very obscure Folklore-inspired outfit, but every view, comment and like is an opportunity for the city. "It inspires another generation, or other groups of travellers, to consider Vancouver," Westcott explains. A PLACE IN THIS WORLD The most obvious and im- mediate economic impact that the Eras Tour will have is on the hotel industry. Westcott points out that Vancouver had Canada's highest average daily room rate in history in sum- mer 2023 (reaching $346) with an occupancy of 87 percent, and predicts sky-high numbers during that December week- end thanks to the concert. In Seattle, I was lucky that I had a friend whose apartment I could glitter-ify myself in—the only hotels available were over US$400 per night. "It just reignites that bigger conversation around increasing our capacity," says Westcott. She brings up the po- tential solution of converting office spaces into hotel rooms, and comments on the eco- nomic opportunity for Airbnb owners (a smaller group now, as Vancouver's new rules allow short-term rentals only in resi- dences in which owners live— and only one per property). Some Vancouver anti-heroes are already going so far as to rent out parking spots in their downtown buildings for December 6, 7 and 8. CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS There's no doubt the Eras Tour will bring money to Vancouver, but Westcott warns businesses— particularly those in hospitality— to prepare for trouble. "We don't tell Taylor how to run the show," she says with a laugh, "but she's coming in what is already a re- ally busy time of year, especially for service-facing businesses." GO FIGURE by Michael McCullough SOURCES: QUESTION PRO, CBC It's estimated that over 30 million people registered to get tickets to the Canadian leg of the Eras Tour (Vancouver and Toronto). The capacity of BC Place is 54,000. The most expensive resale ticket currently available for a Vancouver concert is $15,003. The cheapest is $1,245. 71% of American Eras Tour attendees say the money they spent for the experience was worth it. 91% said they'd go again. I don't know about you, but there are 22 references to Taylor Swift songs in this story—not counting this sidebar. A HITCH IN TIME On March 10, we all "spring forward" by an hour, despite the passage of a 2019 law aimed at ending the practice in B.C. Switching twice a year between Standard Time and Daylight Saving has come under increasing scrutiny—so we're casting our own eye on some numbers around the clock The average American fan spent US$1,300 on the concert. Rank of Canada among countries that have used DST the longest: 1 Thunder Bay, Ontario, adopted Daylight Saving Time in 1908. provinces switch to DST at this time of year, the exception being Saskatchewan, which stays on Central Standard Time year-round. B.C.'s northeast, Yukon and pockets of Ontario and Quebec likewise eschew the time change 9