Ticketless Taylor Swift fans crowded the Melbourne Cricket Ground in their masses as they desperately tried to get a glimpse of the megastar’s Eras tour performance.
The global megastar, 34, kicked off the Australian leg of her Eras tour at the Melbourne venue on Friday night, also marking the biggest concert of her career.
As well as 96,000 people crowded into the venue, huge numbers of Swifties also gathered outside in a bid to listen in to the show, despite not having the sought-after tickets.
Pictures showed groups of fans stamping their feet in time to the music and singing along outside the MCG and dancing on the grass as Swiftie mania swept Australia.
Swifties were also seen pressing their faces against the glass doors of the cricket ground as they desperately tried to get a small glimpse of the much-awaited concert.
Ticketless Taylor Swift fans crowded the Melbourne Cricket Ground in their masses as they desperately tried to get a glimpse of the megastar’s Eras tour performance
![As well as 96,000 people crowded into the venue, huge numbers of Swifties also gathered outside in a bid to listen in to the show, despite not having the sought-after tickets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352557-13091553-image-a-79_1708083952768.jpg)
As well as 96,000 people crowded into the venue, huge numbers of Swifties also gathered outside in a bid to listen in to the show, despite not having the sought-after tickets
![The global megastar, 34, kicked off the Australian leg of her Eras tour at the Melbourne venue on Friday night, also marking the biggest concert of her career](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350341-13091553-image-a-94_1708084087275.jpg)
The global megastar, 34, kicked off the Australian leg of her Eras tour at the Melbourne venue on Friday night, also marking the biggest concert of her career
![Pictures showed groups of fans eagerly trying to get as close to the venue as possible as Swiftie mania swept Australia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352563-13091553-image-a-80_1708083957516.jpg)
Pictures showed groups of fans eagerly trying to get as close to the venue as possible as Swiftie mania swept Australia
As well as eager fans hosting their own show outside the venue, almost 100,000 lucky fans were treated to watching Taylor put on her biggest concert ever.
Despite already having performed at huge sporting stadiums across the US, the opening night of her Australian tour broke records, as she has never performed to a crowd larger than 74,000.
Reacting to performing at her biggest show to date, Taylor told the 96,000-strong crowd: ‘This is the biggest show we’ve done on this tour or any tour I have ever done!
‘That’s the version you get of me tonight, the version that is completely star-struck by the fact that so many of you wanted to hang out with us on Saturday night in Melbourne!’
Fans had been trying to get their hands on last-minute tickets for the Australia tour right up until the first show amid sky-high demand to attend the sold-out shows.
![Security and police were seen trying to get the crowds in order as the MCG became completely overrun](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352565-13091553-image-a-81_1708083961162.jpg)
Security and police were seen trying to get the crowds in order as the MCG became completely overrun
![Fans were seen holding up their phones as they listened along to the concert from outside the venue](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350365-13091553-image-a-82_1708083998374.jpg)
Fans were seen holding up their phones as they listened along to the concert from outside the venue
![There was a high atmosphere outside the arena as fans didn't let not getting their hands on tickets stop them from getting involved](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350367-13091553-image-a-83_1708084001253.jpg)
There was a high atmosphere outside the arena as fans didn’t let not getting their hands on tickets stop them from getting involved
![Eager groups were seen sitting outside the MCG as they got involved with the Swiftie mania](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350373-13091553-image-a-84_1708084004343.jpg)
Eager groups were seen sitting outside the MCG as they got involved with the Swiftie mania
![Huge groups had to be moved away from the venue doors amid the Swiftie mayhem sweeping Australia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352559-13091553-image-a-87_1708084028563.jpg)
Huge groups had to be moved away from the venue doors amid the Swiftie mayhem sweeping Australia
It comes after tour organisers recently admitted they were concerned about the 15,000 ticketless fans who were estimated to arrive at the shows in Melbourne and Sydney.
Ahead of the Sydney gigs next week, Venues NSW warned ticketless fanatics to stay away from Accor Stadium to prevent crowd management issues, The Daily Telegraph reported.
A spokesperson said fans who missed out on tickets should not try to ‘soak up the atmosphere’ outside, as they likely won’t hear any songs anyway.
‘We are not encouraging ticketless fans to attend, but part of our contingency plan is allowing for extra people who may be travelling who haven’t got tickets,’ they said.
![Swifties were seen pressing their faces against the glass doors of the cricket ground as they desperately tried to get a small glimpse of the much-awaited concert](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352555-13091553-image-a-88_1708084031574.jpg)
Swifties were seen pressing their faces against the glass doors of the cricket ground as they desperately tried to get a small glimpse of the much-awaited concert
![The crowds watched through the glass doors as they desperately tried to get any look at the gig](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352545-13091553-image-a-91_1708084040368.jpg)
The crowds watched through the glass doors as they desperately tried to get any look at the gig
![Fans were seen becoming emotional as they tried to listen to the show, despite sadly not getting their hands on tickets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352549-13091553-image-a-89_1708084035922.jpg)
Fans were seen becoming emotional as they tried to listen to the show, despite sadly not getting their hands on tickets
![It comes after tour organisers recently admitted they were concerned about the 15,000 ticketless fans who were estimated to arrive at the shows in Melbourne and Sydney](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81352547-13091553-image-a-92_1708084045044.jpg)
It comes after tour organisers recently admitted they were concerned about the 15,000 ticketless fans who were estimated to arrive at the shows in Melbourne and Sydney
![As well as eager fans hosting their own show outside the venue, almost 100,000 lucky fans were treated to watching Taylor put on her biggest concert ever](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350349-13091553-The_96_000_strong_crowd_appeared_to_be_having_the_time_of_their_-a-93_1708084059191.jpg)
As well as eager fans hosting their own show outside the venue, almost 100,000 lucky fans were treated to watching Taylor put on her biggest concert ever
![Despite already having performed at huge sporting stadiums across the US, the opening night of her Australian tour broke records, as she has never performed to a crowd larger than 74,000](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350335-13091553-image-a-85_1708084013966.jpg)
Despite already having performed at huge sporting stadiums across the US, the opening night of her Australian tour broke records, as she has never performed to a crowd larger than 74,000
![Reacting to performing at her biggest show to date, Taylor told the 96,000-strong crowd: 'This is the biggest show we've done on this tour or any tour I have ever done'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/16/11/81350337-13091553-image-a-86_1708084023886.jpg)
Reacting to performing at her biggest show to date, Taylor told the 96,000-strong crowd: ‘This is the biggest show we’ve done on this tour or any tour I have ever done’
Despite warnings from the NSW government, businesses are said to be rolling out the welcome mat for all of Taylor’s fans regardless of whether they have tickets.
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said: ‘Irrespective of their ticket status, Sydney must put up the welcome sign for the Swifties because they will all make a contribution to our city in some way.’
Taylor will play three shows at Melbourne’s MCG on February 16, 17, and 18 before heading to Sydney for four concerts at Accor Stadium on February 23, 24, 25, and 26.