Taylor Swift’s historical past with Madison Sq. Backyard, from expertise competitors to wedding ceremony celebration

Taylor Swift shouldn’t be shy about her love for New York Metropolis, referencing it in a number of lyrics — from the apparent “Welcome to New York” on “1989” to extra delicate references like “Your heartbeat on the Excessive Line” within the music “Cardigan.”

And on her fourth studio album, “Crimson,” Swift alludes to Madison Sq. Backyard, the venue the place she and Travis Kelce plan to host a number of wedding ceremony occasions this week, sources say.

In “The Fortunate One,” Swift sings a couple of star who finally chooses a quiet life over fame, utilizing the long-lasting venue as a logo for the limelight: 

“They are saying you got a bunch of land someplace

Selected the rose backyard over Madison Sq. 

And it took a while, however I perceive it now”

However Swift does not seem like making the identical alternative as the topic of “The Fortunate One.” She and Kelce plan to have a rehearsal dinner Thursday and an even bigger celebration Friday at Madison Sq. Backyard, based on two regulation enforcement sources accustomed to the safety planning for the occasions.

Past her lyrics, Swift has had a decadeslong historical past with Madison Sq. Backyard, performing there as early as 2003 and even celebrating her thirtieth birthday on the venue. 

This is a take a look at her ties to the venue:

Knicks halftime present

Madison Sq. Backyard welcomed Swift to New York in 2003 when she took half in a expertise competitors throughout halftime at a Knicks recreation. Swift sang “Fortunate You,” an unreleased unique music. 

“I carried out on the Knicks’ — at Madison Sq. Backyard’s — Youngsters Expertise Competitors at halftime after I was 12 or 13,” Swift informed TIME in a 2014 interview. “And ever since then I’ve had this sort of sparkly, magical opinion of Madison Sq. Backyard and the Knicks, since they let me sing after I was a little bit child.”

“I like you, New York,” Swift yelled to the group throughout her efficiency. 

Tour stops

Swift had live shows at Madison Sq. Backyard throughout two of her excursions: “Fearless” in 2009 and “Converse Now” in 2011.

The venue wasn’t a part of her later excursions, as she wanted bigger areas.

Swift additionally made an look throughout considered one of Ed Sheeran’s live shows on the venue in 2013. The duo sang their music “Every little thing Has Modified.”

Jingle Ball

Swift has carried out in 5 of iHeartRadio’s annual Jingle Ball occasions at Madison Sq. Backyard. The live shows sometimes happen in early December. In 2019, the present fell on Dec. 13, Swift’s thirtieth birthday.

“I had a alternative,” Swift stated on stage, based on Selection. “The place would I need to spend my thirtieth birthday? The reply is: you are it. That is the primary present of the thirtieth 12 months of my life.” 

Radio host Elvis Duran introduced Swift with an enormous cake that includes photographs of her cats to have fun her birthday. 

Knicks video games

On high of her performances, Swift has sat in “celeb row” at a number of Knicks video games over time. 

Within the 2014 TIME interview, Swift described former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire and his then-wife, Alexis, as “essentially the most regular individuals” on the Met Gala the years she attended. 

“I discuss with them and hold with them each time I am there. So I’ve at all times had this kind of love of the Knicks, simply because Amar’e is so cool,” she stated. 

Swift most just lately appeared courtside at Madison Sq. Backyard throughout Sport 4 of the NBA Finals, by which the Knicks had an historic comeback towards the San Antonio Spurs.