Glendale picks ‘new’ city name in honor of Taylor Swift shows

By Steve Stockmar
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Twitter: @stevestockmar

For the first time since State Farm Stadium opened in 2006, the venue later this week will host sold out concerts on consecutive nights.

That’s a big enough occasion to rename the city.

Taylor Swift opens her massive 52-date Eras Tour this Friday, March 17 in Glendale, with a follow-up concert the very next night. Both shows are sellouts, says stadium General Manager Andy Gorchov who on Monday reported that the Glendale venue will host 140,000 fans over both nights.

In honor of the high-profile shows, Mayor Jerry Weiers announced a proclamation rebranding Glendale as “Swift City” this coming Friday and Saturday.

“For a stadium I don’t know that it gets any better than this,” Gorchov said Monday, at the city’s press conference at the Glendale Media Center, right across the street from State Farm Stadium, which served as the event’s backdrop. “Last month the state of Arizona and State Farm Stadium were at the center of the sports universe as we hosted a very successful Super Bowl 57. This week ‘Swift City’ Arizona and State Farm Stadium will be at the center of the music universe.”

The mayor’s office shared other suggested names, which included SwiftDale, ERAzona, TaylorDale and TizzleTown, among others.

Swift has sold more than 114 million digital and physical records worldwide, making her one of the best selling artists of all time.

Steve Stockmar
News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment YourValley.net
@stevestockmar

sstockmar@iniusa.org

Meet Steve
Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.

Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.

Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.

Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.

Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.