A council officer and a representative of Police Scotland will attend a Taylor Swift concert in Madrid this week as part of a fact finding mission led by the SRU.
Taylor Swift plays Murrayfield on 7,8 and 9 June 2024 and the SRU, The City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland are preparing by going to a concert in Spain this week to meet Swift’s tour staff and to see for themselves how such a large scale concert works.
Claire Miller, a council officer in the Place, Culture & Wellbeing department of the council will go to Madrid as a guest of the SRU/AEG. The party will go by plane as “Rail or bus travel would take approximately 31 to 38 hours, and involve 3 changes before arriving in Madrid and would require additional overnight accommodation. A combination of train and car ferry would take approximately 37 hours, on average 7 changes and require overnight accommodation”.
The council report prepared in connection with the international travel expenses claim which will be presented to a council meeting on Tuesday states that: “The trip will assist in ensuring comprehensive plans are in place for the upcoming concerts in Edinburgh”.
More fully the purpose of the trip is described as a way to “gain valuable insights into the Taylor Swift concerts due to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in advance of the tour coming to Edinburgh. The Council will form part of the delegation, including representatives from SRU, AEG and Police Scotland.
“The visit will focus on several key aspects: Zone Ex Management: Understanding how Zone Ex is managed during the concert, including security protocols and crowd control measures; Impact on the city: Examining the broader impact of concert-goers on the city, including logistical challenges and community engagement; Command and Control Arrangements: Exploring the organisational structures and strategies in place for effective command and control during the concerts; Monitoring Access and Egress: Observing the processes involved in monitoring and managing the access and egress of concert-goers to and from the venue; Taylor-Gating: Observing the impact of non-ticket holders on the periphery of the venue; and Meeting Taylor Swift’s Tour Staff: An opportunity to meet with personnel from Taylor Swift’s tour staff, gaining insights into the behind-the- scenes operations.
“Scottish Rugby have requested a Council officer join them to provide expertise and perspective and to gain a comprehensive understanding of these concerts, particularly from the realm of public safety to enhance discussions and analysis throughout the trip.”
Council Leader and Convener of the Policy and Sustainability Convener, Cammy Day said: “We’re committed to making sure that all our major events take place as safely and smoothly as possible. Taylor Swift’s upcoming performances will be the biggest ever seen by Edinburgh and as such present a unique set of challenges for us and our partners to respond to. It’s right that we look at the examples of other major cities to help us in our preparation.
“Ultimately, it will be a matter for members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee to consider this report.”
Concert costs compared
Tickets for the Madrid concert at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday evening are still available at much more reasonable prices than in Edinburgh. Tickets can be bought for anything up to £558 on Viagogo, whereas tickets for Scottish Gas Murrayfield are on sale at prices in excess of £1,000.
The Four Seasons in Madrid has a room available for around £1,600 a night which compares favourably with 100 Princes Street, the newest luxury hotel in town where a suite for two people overlooking Edinburgh Castle and crucially, near the tram stop, will set you back £3,620 per night – (the price includes breakfast).
Other options such as the airport hotel in Madrid are available on the 29 May for just over £110 whereas The Moxy at Edinburgh Airport is available at a standard rate of £645 per night on 7 June.
The official ticket sellers for the Murrayfield concert are Ticketmaster and AXS, but tickets are also selling for up to £500 each on Viagogo in recent weeks and in excess of £1,000 on StubHub.
The Scottish Rugby Union which is hosting the concert at Scottish Gas Murrayfield have a full page of FAQs here on their website for anyone going to the concert.
The SRU and Police Scotland have been asked for comment.
Twinning visit to Munich
Also at Tuesday’s meeting the council will be asked to approve the cost of £1,400 for the Lord Provost to attend the Euros in Munich which is one of Edinburgh’s twin cities. Accommodation and expenses will be paid by Munich City Council. The visit which comes at the invitation of the Mayor of Munich to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship. The Lord Provost will join the Mayor in opening the Euro 2024 Fanzone at Olimpiapark. A council officer, the International Relations Officer, will accompany the Lord Provost between 13 and 15 June and representatives of VisitScotland, The Scottish Government and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will also take part in the trip. The visit to the twin city will also mark the 70th anniversary of the relationship between the two cities and is part of a series of cultural exchange events which include:
In December 2023, the installation of a new nativity scene created by a Munich
based sculptor outside St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral
3.3.2 In Autumn 2024, cultural exchanges including representation from Munich artists
at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, and performances by Edinburgh jazz
bands in Munich
3.3.3 In October 2024, planned teaching staff exchanges commencing with a visit to
Edinburgh by a group of Munich teachers, and
3.3.4 Outward trade missions to Munich for which planning discussions are currently
underway with partners in both cities.
The Green group has asked that the Lord Provost travels by train and not plane, but in the application form it is stated that travelling by train would require a 15-hour journey with two additional overnight stays. The proposal is that air travel will minimise both travel time and costs.
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