ATLANTA — Downtown Atlanta is going to be fan central all weekend with superstars Taylor Swift and Janet Jackson performing next door to one another on Friday night.
Janet Jackson played the first of two shows at State Farm Arena on Wednesday night with the second pushed to Friday night after the Hawks forced a Game 6.
Taylor Swift kicks off the first of three shows in The Eras Tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday night. She has two more sold-out shows at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.
Even before the pop superstar takes the stage in Atlanta, Swifties flocked to the stadium to get their hands on merchandise on Thursday morning.
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Here’s what to know about the big events in Atlanta.
Tickets
All tickets for Jackson’s Thursday night’s show will be honored for Friday night’s show, according to a news release from the Hawks and State Farm Arena.
Refunds will be available for those who are unable to attend.
Doors for Jackson’s concerts on Wednesday and Friday open at 6:30 p.m. with an official start time of 7:45 p.m.
For the Swifties, doors open at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 4:30 p.m. Early entry for VIP groups will begin at 3:30 p.m. The opening acts will go on at 6:30 p.m. followed by Swift.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium says parking lots will open at noon.
Traffic
One of the best ways to get to these events over the weekend is MARTA.
MARTA’s Director of Rail Transportation told Channel 2′s Audrey Washington on Wednesday that they are adding extra service to their rail lines over the weekend to help get more people in and out.
Atlanta police will also be in the area directing traffic and controlling crowds.
Fans are being asked to get to the area early to allow for traffic and consider taking MARTA to decrease the number of cars in the area.
Restaurants and Hotels
If you’re still looking for a hotel in Atlanta, you might be out of luck. Many hotels told Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins that they’re full for the weekend.
They added that most of their hotel rooms are being filled by people from the metro Atlanta area.
Restaurants in downtown Atlanta say they are overstocking their kitchens to make sure they have plenty of food to feed hungry concert-goers.
Security
Atlanta Police Department is asking locals and visitors to start planning for the busy weekend now.
Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco said officers suggested using the MARTA to ease traffic congestion.
MARTA said it is providing extra trains and officers to handle the crowds.
Police said they are warning people parking to leave all valuables at home, especially guns.
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