Eras Tour Tickets at Face Value? These Fans Are Making It Happen

Desperate to see Taylor Swift live without breaking the bank? A trio of dedicated fans are making it possible for fellow Swifties to snag tickets at face value, fighting against the exorbitant prices on resale sites.

Courtney Johnston, a 26-year-old from Long Beach, California, started the @ErasTourResell account on X (formerly Twitter) as a way to connect fans who wanted to sell their tickets at the original price. "I got the inspiration after seeing the crazy prices for tickets on StubHub," says Johnston. "I tweeted that I was thinking about starting a page where you can only sell tickets at face value, and that blew up!"

The page, now boasting over 270,000 followers, has become a beacon of hope for Swifties battling the inflated ticket market. Johnston, along with her friends Angel Richards and Channette Garay, a couple from Bridgeport, Connecticut, have turned their shared passion for Swift's music into a community dedicated to ensuring fair access to the Eras Tour.

"I thought this was going to stay in our circle, but it's gone beyond that," Johnston says. "People are joining Twitter just to follow us in hopes of getting tickets, so it's kind of crazy that it's gone beyond our little family and is reaching a whole new audience."

The trio have developed a rigorous system to vet both sellers and buyers, safeguarding against scams and price gouging. Sellers are required to complete a form and provide a screen recording of the Ticketmaster app, demonstrating the ticket transfer process. Johnston meticulously scrutinises every detail, from the scrolling speed to the font and text fade-in, ensuring authenticity.

"We have them fill out a form, and then they have to send a screen recording going from our Twitter DMs into the Ticketmaster app," Johnston explains. "They have to show the transfer button."

Buyers are also vetted through a form submission process, ensuring genuine fans are the ones benefiting from the service. When tickets become available, Johnston uses a random number generator to select a winner from the pool of applicants.

"Everyone has a chance," she says. "I use a random number generator and put in the amount of submissions. It picks a random number. I then go through the winner's page to make sure they are a real person and a fan."

For a recent pair of tickets to Miami, over 15,000 fans submitted entries, showcasing the overwhelming demand for tickets at a fair price.

Johnston, Richards, and Garay dedicate countless hours to this passion project, spending an estimated 40 hours a week meticulously verifying sellers and buyers. While they don't profit from the service, they do accept donations to help cover the cost of their time and effort.

"I hope Taylor's team sees that her fans will rally around a cause and root for each other," Johnston says. "We don't want scalpers to win. We want to help each other get to the Eras Tour."

Their dedication to creating a fair and inclusive space for Swifties to experience the tour has resulted in heartwarming moments, like the time they surprised a mother and daughter with two tickets in Los Angeles.

"They were sitting outside the stadium," Johnston recalls. "Seeing their skepticism turn to excitement was so rewarding."

With eleven European shows remaining before a two-month break, and a North American leg set for the autumn, the demand for tickets is unlikely to abate. For Swifties seeking a chance to experience the magic of the Eras Tour without breaking the bank, @ErasTourResell continues to offer a glimmer of hope, proving that genuine fandom can overcome the challenges of the ticket market.