New York City appears to be bracing itself for the American equivalent of a royal wedding: the marriage between pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
For weeks, reports have suggested that the pair would be tying the knot at Madison Square Garden, the city’s world-famous arena that can hold up to 22,000 people, on the July 4 weekend.
The New York Times now reports that a permit was filed with New York City to close the streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 to midday July 4 for an event on July 3, according to three sources, further pointing towards Madison Square Garden as the chosen venue for the pair.
Winick Productions, an event planning company that produces major high-profile events, filed an application with the city’s Street Activity Permit Office in early June, according to the report.
The company requested authorization to set up a tent or canopy outside the arena for the event, which it said would include 500 to 999 attendees. The permit also stated that trucks would need space to load and unload materials at the venue. The Independent has contacted the mayor’s office and Swift’s representatives for comment.
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open image in galleryThe outlet also reports that several members of the Kansas City Chiefs have booked hotel rooms for dates around July 3 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
A city official who was briefed on the preparations also told the publication that Madison Square Garden is planning to host the wedding festivities on July 3.
The report also states that Amtrak police officers, who patrol the station beneath the arena, have been told to expect a Swift wedding the weekend of July 4.
It comes after New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to verify reports that the couple’s nuptials would be taking place in the city.
“We are the biggest city in the country,” Mamdani said during a press conference last week. “We are used to big events, and we are incredibly excited for this one.
open image in gallery“We know it coincides with July 4, America 250, Taylor Swift’s wedding all happening at the same time,” he continued, assuring that he is “fully confident in the work of the NYPD” to provide a “safe experience” over the three-day weekend.
Located in Midtown Manhattan above Penn Station, Madison Square Garden has multiple entrances and exits, which could be a reason why the high-profile couple reportedly chose the venue.
Currently, the venue has no planned performances or sporting events between June 29 and July 6. The venue can hold up to 22,000 people for concerts and around 18,000 for sports games.
According to a Page Six report, more than 1,000 guests are reported to have been invited to the wedding, including Suki Waterhouse, Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid and Ed Sheeran.
open image in galleryThe spectacle would bring heightened tourism to the area, at the peak of an already busy summer season. Over the July 4 weekend, there will be multiple Independent Day celebrations, which will be bigger than usual given the America 250 events happening in the city.
The city has also seen an influx of visitors for the FIFA World Cup, and a game is scheduled to take place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 5.
Some commentators have predicted that the pair will not use the venue as a traditional arena, but erect a tent or structure inside the venue for increased privacy.
Last weekend, the sudden appearance of a large tent next to Swift’s sprawling Watch Hill estate in Rhode Island ignited a flurry of speculation that the wedding would be taking place in New England instead of New York City. However, those rumors appeared to be dispelled when it emerged that the tent had been erected for a separate event.
Swift, 36, and Kelce, 36, have been together since September 2023 and announced their engagement in August last year.