Pop megastar Taylor Swift said there was a reason she chose Vancouver and Canada as the final stop of her 149-show Eras Tour, a sequin-sparkled cultural steamroller that has spanned five continents.

The fans donB次元官网网址檛 just know the lyrics, she told the first-night audience at a sold-out BC Place stadium on Friday, B次元官网网址渢hey scream them.B次元官网网址�

Excitement in Vancouver over the shows had been building for more than a year since the city became a late addition to the tour, which is the first to make more than US$1 billion in revenue.

As the clock ticked down toward T-minus-zero, the city embraced all things Swift, draping giant friendship bracelets over landmarks, changing the cityB次元官网网址檚 sign on the waterfront to B次元官网网址淪wiftcouver,B次元官网网址� and even retuning the iconic Gastown steam clock to play B次元官网网址淪hake It Off.B次元官网网址�

Police said an estimated 160,000 fans were expected in downtown Vancouver over the three shows, and in the hours before FridayB次元官网网址檚 concert, streets were thronged with Swifties, many in dazzling themed outfits.

The rapturous welcome the B次元官网网址淐ruel SummerB次元官网网址� singer received when she finally made it onto the stage proved her point about the fandom.

After the ballad B次元官网网址淐hampagne Problems,B次元官网网址� she was met with a ritualistic standing ovation that has become a staple of the tour. It lasted three minutes, and the applause shook the stadium.

Swift took out her ear monitors, and laughed as she looked around in seeming disbelief.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, honestly, I am just feeling so overjoyed that we decided to spend our last several shows in Vancouver,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淵ou are unbelievable. I love you so much. My face hurts from grinning. Thank you so much,B次元官网网址� she added, letting out a squeal.

The pop star had made her entrance on the BC Place stage in a shimmering blue-and-gold bodysuit, kicking off the show around 7:50 p.m. with her usual B次元官网网址淟overB次元官网网址� era set to the tune of B次元官网网址淢iss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲here have the crowds been so generous, so welcoming, so warm-hearted? Where do they know every single word? And they not only sing them, but they scream them?B次元官网网址� she asked the audience after her opening numbers.

B次元官网网址淥h, weB次元官网网址檝e got to go back to Canada, and so here we are in beautiful Vancouver.B次元官网网址�

She also struck a wistful note, reflecting on the end of a tour that has lasted almost two years.

B次元官网网址淭his has been a tour of many traditions. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a tour of many, many Friday nights. But this will be the last Friday night that we ever play on the Eras Tour.B次元官网网址�

She later called it B次元官网网址渢he greatest last Friday nightB次元官网网址� she could imagine.

Outside, crowds of ticketless fans were also enjoying the show, cheering and singing along under steady rain and the watchful eye of police B次元官网网址� and undeterred by warnings from stadium officials that those without tickets should stay away.

Security was tight, with street barricades cutting off some of the downtown coreB次元官网网址檚 busiest streets, including West Georgia, Smithe, Beatty and Robson. The closures had snarled traffic in the afternoon.

Ajeet Brar from Penticton, B.C., was leading some of the singalongs, determined to help share B次元官网网址渢he love and the energyB次元官网网址� of the tour.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what this is all about. ItB次元官网网址檚 not about getting that ticket. ItB次元官网网址檚 about the people,B次元官网网址� said Brar.

Huge numbers of Swifties were also watching the show online, via multiple fan livestreams. Some had viewerships bigger then the capacity of BC Place.

Support act Gracie Abrams had warmed up the crowd before Swift took the stage, calling the tour B次元官网网址渢he most magical place on Earth.B次元官网网址�

She said she would never forget the experience and lamented its end on Sunday.

B次元官网网址淰ancouver, I donB次元官网网址檛 know how any of us are supposed to have the words to begin to talk about the end of the Eras Tour, but all I know is that I could not be more grateful to be in the same room as all of you tonight,B次元官网网址� said Abrams, who also opened all six Toronto dates last month.

Before playing her Grammy-nominated song B次元官网网址渦s.,B次元官网网址� which she co-wrote with Swift, she told the crowd, B次元官网网址淲e are all the same in that Taylor is my favourite artist and my favourite writer ever.B次元官网网址�

Swift performed almost non-stop for more than three hours, with the show broken into 10 mini sets representing the eras of her 11 studio albums.

Before the 10-minute version of B次元官网网址淎ll Too WellB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� a fan favourite B次元官网网址� she told the crowd why the tour has been the longest of her career, both in terms of show time and number of performances.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 felt like this escape to a planet where nothing but joy, and passion and togetherness and camaraderie exists. ItB次元官网网址檚 also a chance to relive some of my favourite memories from tours weB次元官网网址檝e done in the past.B次元官网网址�

The set list of almost 50 songs included well-known hits like B次元官网网址淒elicateB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏ejewelledB次元官网网址� as well as surprise acoustic songs that change each night.

Swift called it the section she B次元官网网址済ets nervousB次元官网网址� about.

On Friday, Swift played a mash-up of B次元官网网址淗auntedB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淲onderlandB次元官网网址� on guitar followed by a mix of B次元官网网址淣ever Grow UpB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭he Best DayB次元官网网址� on piano.

Each era of the show is marked by set and outfit changes that reflect the albums.

For instance, Swift wore a glittery ball gown for the B次元官网网址淪peak NowB次元官网网址� section and a golden and black snake jumpsuit during her B次元官网网址淩eputationB次元官网网址� set on Friday.

The costumes have also become part of the fandom. Eliza Sylvia, who attended FridayB次元官网网址檚 show with three friends, wore a handmade B次元官网网址淢idnightsB次元官网网址�-inspired body suit that she spent more than 100 hours bedazzling.

It was her first Swift concert, Sylvia said ahead of the show, adding that it was highly anticipated after nearly two years of watching B次元官网网址済rainy livestreams.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,B次元官网网址� she said of attending the final weekend of the tour.

Cassie Leonhardt from North Vancouver, B.C., dressed in a shimmering red leotard, travelled the world to attend seven of SwiftB次元官网网址檚 concerts. She was attending both FridayB次元官网网址檚 and SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 shows.

Leonhardt confessed she purchased her outfit, rather than making it herself.

B次元官网网址淚 tried to make my own, but then I couldnB次元官网网址檛 like pull it up my legs because the glue was too tight, and then I just ended up ordering it because I gave up B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 not very crafty.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� with files by Nono Shen in Vancouver

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press