When pop star Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce got engaged last summer in the backyard of his Kansas City home, a pressing question immediately gripped fans: when and where would the wedding be? This weekend, the answer may finally arrive.
Speculation has reached fever pitch, with more than $2m (£1.5m) being bet on prediction markets about where the couple will tie the knot. The New York Times last week reported that permits had been requested for a large event at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in early July – an event that would shut down the busy Manhattan area for blocks.
“Permits and $2m in bets hint at a Swift-Kelce wedding at Madison Square Garden this weekend.”
Now, city officials have confirmed the permit. Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the New York City mayor’s office, told the BBC that someone applied in early June to close roads around the arena from 2 to 4 July – the Independence Day weekend. The New York Times also reported that several players on Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs team had booked hotel rooms nearby, adding to the intrigue.
While the Times has not explicitly said the arena event is a wedding, it described it as a celebration that could be related to the couple’s nuptials. The BBC’s US media partner, CBS News, reported on Tuesday that the couple are planning a rehearsal dinner for about 100 people at the arena’s Infosys Theater, with a second, larger celebration set for Friday night into Saturday morning that could accommodate about 1,000 people.
Clues have been mounting. Large trucks were seen at the venue on Monday, with loading signs reading “Garden Party” and “GP”. Crews have been unloading stage equipment, lights and gear – including a 40-inch mirror ball and a large white staircase railing – much of it draped in black wrappings, keeping the final picture shrouded in mystery.
Swift, known for dropping hints in everything from her wardrobe to her music, has kept mum about her upcoming nuptials. But with a city block closed, a mirror ball unloaded, and millions riding on the venue, the world is watching to see if the couple finally reveal their hand.