Pop megastar Taylor Swift said there was a reason she chose Vancouver and Canada as the final stop of her 149-show Eras Tour, a sequin-sparkled cultural steamroller that has spanned five continents.

The fans don香蕉视频直播檛 just know the lyrics, she told the first-night audience at a sold-out BC Place stadium on Friday, 香蕉视频直播渢hey scream them.香蕉视频直播�

Excitement in Vancouver over the shows had been building for more than a year since the city became a late addition to the tour, which is the first to make more than US$1 billion in revenue.

As the clock ticked down toward T-minus-zero, the city embraced all things Swift, draping giant friendship bracelets over landmarks, changing the city香蕉视频直播檚 sign on the waterfront to 香蕉视频直播淪wiftcouver,香蕉视频直播� and even retuning the iconic Gastown steam clock to play 香蕉视频直播淪hake It Off.香蕉视频直播�

Police said an estimated 160,000 fans were expected in downtown Vancouver over the three shows, and in the hours before Friday香蕉视频直播檚 concert, streets were thronged with Swifties, many in dazzling themed outfits.

The rapturous welcome the 香蕉视频直播淐ruel Summer香蕉视频直播� singer received when she finally made it onto the stage proved her point about the fandom.

After the ballad 香蕉视频直播淐hampagne Problems,香蕉视频直播� she was met with a ritualistic standing ovation that has become a staple of the tour. It lasted three minutes, and the applause shook the stadium.

Swift took out her ear monitors, and laughed as she looked around in seeming disbelief.

香蕉视频直播淩ight now, honestly, I am just feeling so overjoyed that we decided to spend our last several shows in Vancouver,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淵ou are unbelievable. I love you so much. My face hurts from grinning. Thank you so much,香蕉视频直播� she added, letting out a squeal.

The pop star had made her entrance on the BC Place stage in a shimmering blue-and-gold bodysuit, kicking off the show around 7:50 p.m. with her usual 香蕉视频直播淟over香蕉视频直播� era set to the tune of 香蕉视频直播淢iss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲here have the crowds been so generous, so welcoming, so warm-hearted? Where do they know every single word? And they not only sing them, but they scream them?香蕉视频直播� she asked the audience after her opening numbers.

香蕉视频直播淥h, we香蕉视频直播檝e got to go back to Canada, and so here we are in beautiful Vancouver.香蕉视频直播�

She also struck a wistful note, reflecting on the end of a tour that has lasted almost two years.

香蕉视频直播淭his has been a tour of many traditions. It香蕉视频直播檚 been a tour of many, many Friday nights. But this will be the last Friday night that we ever play on the Eras Tour.香蕉视频直播�

She later called it 香蕉视频直播渢he greatest last Friday night香蕉视频直播� she could imagine.

Outside, crowds of ticketless fans were also enjoying the show, cheering and singing along under steady rain and the watchful eye of police 香蕉视频直播� and undeterred by warnings from stadium officials that those without tickets should stay away.

Security was tight, with street barricades cutting off some of the downtown core香蕉视频直播檚 busiest streets, including West Georgia, Smithe, Beatty and Robson. The closures had snarled traffic in the afternoon.

Ajeet Brar from Penticton, B.C., was leading some of the singalongs, determined to help share 香蕉视频直播渢he love and the energy香蕉视频直播� of the tour.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 what this is all about. It香蕉视频直播檚 not about getting that ticket. It香蕉视频直播檚 about the people,香蕉视频直播� said Brar.

Huge numbers of Swifties were also watching the show online, via multiple fan livestreams. Some had viewerships bigger then the capacity of BC Place.

Support act Gracie Abrams had warmed up the crowd before Swift took the stage, calling the tour 香蕉视频直播渢he most magical place on Earth.香蕉视频直播�

She said she would never forget the experience and lamented its end on Sunday.

香蕉视频直播淰ancouver, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know how any of us are supposed to have the words to begin to talk about the end of the Eras Tour, but all I know is that I could not be more grateful to be in the same room as all of you tonight,香蕉视频直播� said Abrams, who also opened all six Toronto dates last month.

Before playing her Grammy-nominated song 香蕉视频直播渦s.,香蕉视频直播� which she co-wrote with Swift, she told the crowd, 香蕉视频直播淲e are all the same in that Taylor is my favourite artist and my favourite writer ever.香蕉视频直播�

Swift performed almost non-stop for more than three hours, with the show broken into 10 mini sets representing the eras of her 11 studio albums.

Before the 10-minute version of 香蕉视频直播淎ll Too Well香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� a fan favourite 香蕉视频直播� she told the crowd why the tour has been the longest of her career, both in terms of show time and number of performances.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 felt like this escape to a planet where nothing but joy, and passion and togetherness and camaraderie exists. It香蕉视频直播檚 also a chance to relive some of my favourite memories from tours we香蕉视频直播檝e done in the past.香蕉视频直播�

The set list of almost 50 songs included well-known hits like 香蕉视频直播淒elicate香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淏ejewelled香蕉视频直播� as well as surprise acoustic songs that change each night.

Swift called it the section she 香蕉视频直播済ets nervous香蕉视频直播� about.

On Friday, Swift played a mash-up of 香蕉视频直播淗aunted香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淲onderland香蕉视频直播� on guitar followed by a mix of 香蕉视频直播淣ever Grow Up香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淭he Best Day香蕉视频直播� on piano.

Each era of the show is marked by set and outfit changes that reflect the albums.

For instance, Swift wore a glittery ball gown for the 香蕉视频直播淪peak Now香蕉视频直播� section and a golden and black snake jumpsuit during her 香蕉视频直播淩eputation香蕉视频直播� set on Friday.

The costumes have also become part of the fandom. Eliza Sylvia, who attended Friday香蕉视频直播檚 show with three friends, wore a handmade 香蕉视频直播淢idnights香蕉视频直播�-inspired body suit that she spent more than 100 hours bedazzling.

It was her first Swift concert, Sylvia said ahead of the show, adding that it was highly anticipated after nearly two years of watching 香蕉视频直播済rainy livestreams.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,香蕉视频直播� she said of attending the final weekend of the tour.

Cassie Leonhardt from North Vancouver, B.C., dressed in a shimmering red leotard, travelled the world to attend seven of Swift香蕉视频直播檚 concerts. She was attending both Friday香蕉视频直播檚 and Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 shows.

Leonhardt confessed she purchased her outfit, rather than making it herself.

香蕉视频直播淚 tried to make my own, but then I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 like pull it up my legs because the glue was too tight, and then I just ended up ordering it because I gave up 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 not very crafty.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播� with files by Nono Shen in Vancouver

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press