German city renamed 'Swiftkirchen' for Taylor Swift concerts gets 1,400 bids for the signs
The proceeds from the auction of the signs will go to a centre for girls, a food bank for children and a shelter for women in Gelsenkirchen.
FILE - Schoolgirl Aleshanee Westhoff shows a "Swiftkirchen" town sign in honour of musician Taylor Swift in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The German city of Gelsenkirchen, which temporarily put up signs renaming itself “Swiftkirchen” before the American superstar played three concerts there in mid-July, says it received 1,400 bids for the signs from Germany and abroad. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP, File)
The German city of Gelsenkirchen, which temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” before the American superstar played three concerts there in mid-July, said Wednesday (Jul 31) it received about 1,400 bids from Germany and abroad for signs it put up with the name.
The new name was one of a flurry of fan attractions around the concerts on Jul 17, 18 and 19. The city then held an auction for 20 original “Swiftkirchen” signs.
The highest offer was €3,000 (US$3,245), and the 20 highest bidders will be informed by email, the city said in a statement, adding that a total sum for the auction will be announced once all payments have been received. It said one of the winning bids came from outside Germany, but didn't specify where.
The proceeds will go to a centre for girls, a food bank for children and a shelter for women in Gelsenkirchen.
Another “Swiftkirchen” sign is now on display at Germany's museum of post-World War II history in Bonn, the Haus der Geschichte, the city said.
A former coal mining city, Gelsenkirchen is one of Germany's poorest. It's known for the football team Schalke, a traditional heavyweight currently in the second division, and its stadium, which sometimes attracts international entertainers like Swift.
