Bri Brechbuhl, a teacher at Weston Elementary, is in full Swiftie mode as she awaits the pop stars visit to Indianapolis this weekend. The teacher has had her room decorated in a Taylor Swift theme the past two years or more. Wednesday, October. 30, 2024.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD – Bri Brechbuhl is in her cool teacher era.
The 26-year-old, who teaches third grade at Weston Elementary School in Greenfield, is among legions of “Swifties” who have been anxiously awaiting Taylor Swift’s stop in Indianapolis this weekend for her global “Eras” tour, with three sold-out shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Over the past few weeks, Brechbuhl has sometimes incorporated Swift’s music into lesson plans, which have included a poetry lesson based on some of Swift’s lyrics.
The fifth-year teacher enjoys incorporating fun bits of pop culture into her classroom, she said, since it’s something students can get excited about.
Many of her students are big Swift fans, she said, and even some who aren’t still find the singer intriguing since she’s dating Travis Kelce, a famous National Football League player.
Brechbuhl has been a self-proclaimed Swiftie – as Swift fans are called – since she was a young girl attending New Palestine Elementary School, where she and her classmates would sing the budding pop star’s songs on the playground.
As a fifth-grader Brechbuhl experienced her first concert, when the singer opened for Keith Urban at the former Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in 2009.
At the time, Swift was preparing to headline her debut concert tour, which kicked off in Evansville on April 23, 2009.
Since then the worldwide superstar has been selling out stadiums and igniting local economies wherever she goes.
There’s even a name for the phenomenon – Swiftonomics – and Hancock County is already feeling the effects of the upcoming concert weekend in Indianapolis.
Local impact
Brigette Cook Jones, executive director of Hancock County Tourism and Visitor Center, reported that most local hotels were getting reservations for this weekend a year ago, and many were completely booked within the past two or three months.
A local news report shared that hotels were booked throughout Marion County and all eight surrounding donut counties.
“Taylor Swift concerts have seen similar overflow in other cities, so this is to be expected here,” said Jones, who said the economic impact in even neighboring communities can be huge.
Jones said a local economic impact study done last year showed that each visitor who comes into Hancock County for any sort of tourism event typically spends an average of $209 on lodging, food, gas and retail purchases, which doesn’t include tax money from out-of-county pockets.
“These tax dollars reduce the overall tax burden for local residents,” she said.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, Swift’s current concert tour is making an unprecedented impact on local economies, with fans averaging $1,300 of spending on travel, hotel stays, food, as well as merchandise and costumes in the first 20 cities of her current Eras Tour.
That amount of spending is on par with the Super Bowl, according to the USTA, “but this time it happened on 53 different nights in 20 different locations over the course of five months. Downtowns across the country have enjoyed an influx of visitors — and a spending boost – thanks to Taylor Swift.”
As of noon Thursday, tickets for Friday’s show were going for between $2,100 and $8,300 each.
Dream experience
Brechbuhl opted not to shell out that kind of cash to see a show this weekend. She said she already had the experience of a lifetime at one of Swift’s show in Amsterdam in early July, for far less money.
She and three friends nabbed floor tickets to Swift’s July 6 concert there for $250 each, enjoying the concert just five rows from the stage.
Since they were already going to Europe, the foursome opted to turn the trip into a 10-day European adventure, shelling out about $2,000 in all, including concert tickets.
“We took seven trains in nine days, and got to go to four countries,” said Brechbuhl, who was joined by fellow teacher Kara McClarnon – who teaches kindergarten at Weston – along with two other friends.
Their stops included the Louvre and Monet’s garden in Paris, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in London, a couple more castles in Scotland, and the Swift concert in Amsterdam.
Brechbuhl knew it would be a let down to shell out roughly the same amount she spent on a 10-day European vacation to see one of Swift’s concert in Indianapolis – many rows up from the floor tickets she previously enjoyed – so she and McClarnon have opted to attend a Taylor Swift dance party at Victory Field in Indianapolis this weekend instead.
Dance parties and other special events are being hosted throughout the greater Indianapolis area.
Many merchants are also tapping into Swiftmania, including here in Hancock County.
Greenfield Chocolates is offering a T-dazzled Chocolates Collection, featuring glittery confections with a friendship bracelet in each box.
Positive vibes
Friendship bracelets are a signature item at Swift concerts, where fans trade the often handmade bracelets bearing the names of Swift’s songs, albums or concert tours.
Before school let out last year, Brechbuhl’s former class of third graders spent their time during indoor recess one day making bracelets for their teacher, which she later wore and traded at the concert in Amsterdam.
She now has the ones she came home with proudly displayed on her desk.
Brechbuhl hopes those lucky enough to attend one of Swift’s concert in Indianapolis this weekend will have as great a time as she did, enjoying a 3 ½-hour playlist representing songs from each of the 11 albums Swift has produced over the years.
“Her show will make a great impact on the Indianapolis economy, and she’s known for giving generously to the communities she visits as well,” Brechbuhl said.
Jones, of Hancock County Tourism, said the county can expect guests from a number of states this weekend.
“The Taylor Swift fandom is widespread, so it isn’t just locals at these concerts. Thousands of people drive into these big cities from several hours away to attend,” she said, adding that many “Swifties” travel to various cities to see multiple concerts during any given tour.
The frenzied buildup will come to an end at the conclusion of Sunday’s concert, as Swift heads north to finish out the year with multiple tour dates in Canada.
According to Community Health Network in Indianapolis, there’s a name for the doldrums fans might experience after such a hyped up event – Taylor Swift Syndrome – the feeling of letdown after months of anticipation once the concert experience is over.
