Taylor Swift fans headed to Toronto for a run of six concerts next month are expected to bring with them hundreds of millions of dollars in local economic activity, according to new modelling from a tourism organization.

Destination Toronto CEO Andrew Weir said the non-profit is predicting $152 million in direct spending associated with SwiftB次元官网网址檚 Eras Tour during the 10 days itB次元官网网址檚 in town, which the organization anticipates will grow into a $282-million economic impact as the money continues to circulate.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got 282 million reasons to be excited about Taylor Swift coming to the city,B次元官网网址� he said by phone on Tuesday. B次元官网网址淭hat is, the economic impact that weB次元官网网址檝e now had a chance to calculate at least on a projection estimate basis is very, very significant.B次元官网网址�

The model the organization used includes predictions about spending on hotels, dining, shopping and other local fare, but does not include the cost of airfare or the concert tickets themselves, as that money is unlikely to stay in the cityB次元官网网址檚 economy.

Of the $152 million in direct spending, Destination Toronto said $141 million is estimated to come from out-of-town visitors and $11 million is estimated to come from local fans.

Weir said those calculations are based on what other cities have seen since Swift launched her record-breaking tour, including Denver, which released a study on the concertsB次元官网网址� economic impact.

SwiftB次元官网网址檚 ability to drive economic activity is remarkable, Weir said.

Industry publication Pollstar reported late last year that Taylor SwiftB次元官网网址檚 Eras Tour was the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark, citing data pulled from box office reports, venue capacity estimates, historical Pollstar venue ticket sales data, and other undefined research, collected from Nov. 17, 2022 to Nov. 15, 2023.

Meanwhile, her blockbuster film adaptation of the tour, B次元官网网址淭aylor Swift: The Eras Tour,B次元官网网址� has reportedly earned more than US$250 million in sales, making it the highest-grossing concert film of all time.

In Toronto, Swift is set to perform six nights at the Rogers Centre, for a combined audience of roughly 240,000, Destination Toronto said. More than 60,000 people are also expected to attend TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Version: Taylgate B次元官网网址�24, a pre-concert event at the nearby Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Other events have also cropped up, from themed brunches to an event at the Bata Shoe Museum to a singalong hosted by Choir! Choir! Choir!

B次元官网网址淭hat money doesnB次元官网网址檛 stop working once those visitors get on a plane and go home again, because that money is new to our economy,B次元官网网址� Weir said. B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 start the day in our economy, but it ends the day there, and then continues to recirculate.B次元官网网址�

But one expert said the estimate doesnB次元官网网址檛 take into consideration the potential costs to taxpayers.

Joanne McNeish, who teaches marketing management at Toronto Metropolitan University, said additional garbage collection, added police presence for security and traffic rerouting B次元官网网址� not to mention an uptick in crime associated with large gatherings B次元官网网址� all cost the city money.

B次元官网网址淭he economic impact, to me, it sounds like revenue,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd companies always talk about revenue. You want your revenue to be growing. But if youB次元官网网址檙e not making a profit, youB次元官网网址檒l be out of business pretty quickly.B次元官网网址�

She said thereB次元官网网址檚 undoubtedly a benefit to hosting these sorts of cultural events, but when times are tough financially and public services are being cut B次元官网网址� as they are now B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 worth asking questions about spending.

Weir said the public costs associated with SwiftB次元官网网址檚 Toronto stint remain to be seen, but he noted a tour stop is unlike other large events such as the Olympics or the World Cup, in which cities are obligated to spend a certain amount of money on infrastructure.

He also said Destination TorontoB次元官网网址檚 modelling predicts $40 million in taxes will be generated by the tour stop.

Spokespeople for City Hall and the Toronto Police Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

SwiftB次元官网网址檚 Toronto run of concerts is set to begin Nov. 14 and will wrap up Nov. 23. Her second stop in Canada will be in Vancouver in December, where sheB次元官网网址檒l close out the tour.