Rockin' Out in Gelsenkirchen: The City's Excitement for Robbie Williams' Concerts
- ⏰ approx. 2 mins
Preparation Underway for Robbie Williams Incursion in Gelsenkirchen - Preparations Underway for Robbie Williams' Invasion in Gelsenkirchen
It's time to break out the glitter again! Gelsenkirchen is all set and ready to welcome the legendary Robbie Williams with open arms. After the incredible Taylor Swift craze last year, this industrial town is proving that it's a hotspot for music enthusiasts. On Wednesday, Robbie will kick off the first of his seven German concerts at the local arena, turning "Swiftkirchen" into "Robbieville."
Gelsenkirchen is crossing its fingers for another taste of success similar to Taylor Swift's inaugural performance in July 2024. The pop sensation managed to infuse a splash of pink into Gelsenkirchen's gray atmosphere. Thousands of fans traveled for the concerts, with many accommodated on temporary camping grounds. Even those who missed out on tickets in the US joined the celebrations [4]. The city came up with creative ideas, from setting up selfie frames to offering life-sized Taylor Swift cutouts to businesses [5].
The striking marketing strategy of renaming Gelsenkirchen to "Swiftkirchen" drew international attention. According to city spokesman Markus Schwardtmann, this move alone could generate between five to ten million euros for the city [6]. Jimmy Kimmel, a renowned US talk show host, even joked about it: "No one has ever heard of Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Maybe it doesn't even exist."
Get Ready for Robbie Mania!
Now it's time for Robbie lovers to shine! There are still some tickets available, but everyone is invited to join the party. The city is going all out with décor, including flags, banners, garlands, and more to get fans in the mood. Arriving fans by train will be greeted with a festive welcome at the main station. The route to the arena will be clearly marked so no one misses the fun [8].
While the event may not be as grand as Taylor Swift's, city spokesman told dpa that if concert-goers stay in the city center for a hour or two longer than usual, it will benefit local retail and gastronomy [8]. The heart of the Robbie craze will once again be at Heinrich-König-Platz, where there will be a full day of music and a fan article stand. Group karaoke sessions, cardboard cutouts for selfies, and Robbie Williams-themed activities are planned [7].
This visit to Gelsenkirchen could be a chance for reconciliation for Robbie Williams. In 2002, after losing a bet on "Wetten, dass...?", he had to read out the German Bundesliga results. He mispronounced "FC Schalke" as "FC Shit," much to the amusement of the Viennese audience [9]. It's worth noting that Williams will be playing his concert precisely on Schalke.
Williams will then move on to Hannover, Leipzig, Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt. In total, he will make 30 stops on his current tour. The party doesn't stop in Gelsenkirchen either, with several major concerts lined up this summer, including Bruce Springsteen on June 27th and the Iron Maiden tour stop on July 11th [10]. The city administration has announced corresponding "fan events," complete with air guitar and leather jacket contests, glitter tattoos, and more [10]. Although no renaming is in sight for now.
- Robbie Williams
- Gelsenkirchen
- Taylor Swift
[1] - Ausgebrannte Gelsenkirchener rocken mit Robbie Williams
[2] - Können wir Robbie Williams noch besuchen?
[3] - Robbie Williams: Doofe Namen für Orte, wie Gelsenkirchen, wollen beleidigen
[4] - Taylor Swift shows Gelsenkirchen like never before
[5] - Taylor Swift Gelsenkirchen: Der rote Faden durch die Stadt
[6] - Taylor Swift: Gelsenkirchen hofft auf millionsfachiges+Einkommen
[7] - Gelsenkirchen präsentiert sich für Taylor Swift
[8] - Fast jetzt ist auch Gelsenkirchen Swift-Territorium
[9] - FC Schalke 04 vs Cologne: Robbie Williams flubs Bundesliga pronunciation
[10] - Gelsenkirchen erhofft sich Taylor-Swift-boost für Stadtmarketing
- As Robbie Williams prepares to take the stage in Gelsenkirchen, music enthusiasts might find a new song to belt out alongside him, just as they did when Taylor Swift's music filled the city's streets last year.
- While sports fans are primarily focused on the Bundesliga matches, locals and visitors alike in Gelsenkirchen this summer can also engage in a different kind of excitement, as the city transforms into "Robbieville" for the legendary singer's concerts, much like it was known as "Swiftkirchen" for Taylor Swift's performances.
