Music
How Houston is honoring Taylor Swift ahead of her ‘Eras Tour’ shows
Houston is pulling out all the stops as Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ comes to town this weekend.
After delivering a trio of shows in Tampa, Florida last week, Taylor Swift heads to Houston and the NRG Stadium this weekend for three more performances.
NRG Stadium renamed ahead of Swift’s stop
As has become customary during Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ stops, Houston is going all out to honor the singer before she comes to town.
When Swift steps out on stage at the NRG Stadium, she’ll be doing so in a renamed venue after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that the stadium is getting a Swiftie rebrand.
The stadium, which will host all three shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will be renamed to NRG Stadium (Taylor’s Version) for the weekend.
To make sure there are no doubts about the change, the new name will appear on banners placed at the stadium’s north and south entrances.
“We know all too well that other areas have done huge things,” Hidalgo said in a video message posted on Twitter. “They’ve lit up the town; they’ve renamed streets, they’ve even made you mayor for a day. But we’re going to something even better. I know if I did any of that, folks would say that I am the man.
“With the name change, I know it’ll never go out of style. Plus, it’s not only the young that enjoy your music. I hope your stay is beyond your wildest dreams, and for everyone in Harris County, let’s get ready for it!”
Hidalgo also signed a proclamation naming April 21 through April 23 as Taylor Swift The Eras Tour weekend in Harris County.
Houston Humane Society also honors Swift
Along with a venue name change, others in Houston are also finding a way to honor Swift.
The Houston Humane Society is offering a reduced cat adoption fee of $13, a number that references Swift’s favorite number.
The fee, which drops from $50 to $13, is being applied to cats who have been at the shelter for 30 days or more.
Two Houston radio stations also announced they will be changing their names for the occasion. In anticipation of the shows, 104.1 KRBE will become TAY-RBE and play nothing but Swift songs starting at 6 a.m. on Friday.
Mix 96.5 also announced they will go by Mix 9-T.Swift-5 in order to welcome Swift to the city.