The Swifties are set to descend upon the German city formerly known as Gelsenkirchen, where American superstar Taylor Swift will perform three Eras Tour concerts later this month.
In celebration of the singer, the city has temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” to welcome the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend her shows on July 17, 18, and 19, according to German news agency dpa.
A yellow city sign with the new name, which translates roughly to “Swift’s Church,” was unveiled Tuesday by Swift fan Aleshanee Westhoff, who suggested the name to the city’s mayor and initiated a petition several weeks ago.
Mayor Karin Welge expressed gratitude to the teenager for her “great idea” in a letter accepting the proposal.
The Swiftie sign, adorned with a pink portrait of the pop star, is located in the city center. Several more signs will be installed in highly frequented locations in Gelsenkirchen in the coming days, city spokesman Markus Schwardtmann told dpa.
Gelsenkirchen, one of Germany’s poorest cities and a former coal-mining town that has struggled economically since the decline of its main industry, is known for its soccer team and a massive stadium that sometimes hosts international entertainers like Swift.
In addition to the concerts, the U.S. singer will receive her own stone on the Gelsenkirchen Walk of Fame, joining local figures such as soccer coach Rudi Assauer and writer Ilse Kibgis. The city will also host open-air parties with karaoke performances during her shows.
A “Taylor Swift streetcar” is already in operation, dpa reported.
Further fan attractions are being planned but remain under wraps for now.
“There will be lots of big and small surprises, so the Swifties will have plenty to discover in Gelsenkirchen,” Schwardtmann said.
Swift’s concerts in Gelsenkirchen are sold out and will be held at the Veltins-Arena on Schalke stadium, accommodating up to 70,000 fans.
Additional Eras Tour shows are scheduled for Hamburg and Munich.