Indexbit-Taylor Swift fans flock straight from Miami airport to stadium to buy merchandise

MIAMI — Charmaine Brown boarded a plane in Charlotte,Indexbit North Carolina, Thursday morning, but the Swiftie was determined to grab merchandise at the Hard Rock Stadium before checking into her hotel.

"I got on the plane at 6 o'clock this morning," Brown says outside of the stadium holding two plastic bags of Taylor Swift hoodies and T-shirts. Her bright red carry-on bag sits next to her as she orders an Uber. The super fan wore her bright red "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me" tee and "All Too Well" sweatshirt tied around her waist.

"I took my first picture at 11:03 a.m., and my checkout picture was at 12:09 p.m.," she says, showing off her recent photos. "I am so excited for the concert. I cannot wait. I hope Taylor knows we appreciate everything that you do for us."

The gates to the stadium merchandise line opened at 10 a.m. Handfuls of fans arrived early. Security guards waved cars into the parking lot. The overjoyed enthusiasts coalesced at the metal detectors outside the stadium walls — some already wearing Swift's concert merchandise from other tour stops. Guards ushered fans in bundles of 20-40 up a flight of stairs to a long line inside one of the buildings snaking back and forth. The wait time for fans arriving around noon was north of 1-2 hours.

"I do feel secure," Brown says. "There's so much security. I love it. I feel fine, and I'm solo. I can't wait for my show tomorrow."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

More:Celebrate Taylor Swift's unprecedented Eras Tour with USA TODAY's enchanting book

The Eras Tour merchandise store will be open to the public on Thursday until 8 p.m. Non-ticketholders should enter through Gate 2. For ticket holders, the store will be open from 4:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

You must have a valid ticket to be on property

Hard Rock Stadium security is putting its foot down on moving fans along who don't have a ticket to one of Swift's three nights in Miami Gardens. A prepaid parking pass and concert ticket are required for those looking to park onsite.

"There are NO listening areas outside the stadium for people without concert tickets," the website states. Layers of security perimeters and ticket checkpoints will be in place double checking ticket holders. "Fans will be required to scan their ticket as they pass through each security checkpoint. Fans should expect to have their ticket scanned more than once to enter the stadium."

The security measures may be the strictest seen at any American show following the thwarted terrorist plot in Vienna in August. The most recent Eras Tour stop, London, also ramped up safety protocols.

Ticketholders should know these times:

• Parking gates open | 3:30 p.m.
• Stadium gates open | 4:30 p.m.
• Show begins | 7 p.m.

Swift heads to New Orleans next week and wraps her American leg in Indianapolis from Nov. 1-3. She then will close the tour with two stops in Canada in late November and early December.

Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.

Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.