In January, when Harry Styles announced he would perform at Madison Square Garden in New York for 30 nights between August and October, his biggest fans began plotting and taking to TikTok and Instagram to share their plans.
Among the most pressing questions: Would it make more sense to fly or drive to the city? Did they know anyone with a sofa they could crash on? Just how hard would it be to get a ticket?
Priceline, the online travel agency, saw a surge of interest for the first week of Mr. Styles’s shows, which begin Aug. 26, with flight searches to the New York area skyrocketing 1,273 percent in the days following the announcement and hotel searches rising 414 percent.
“Our data shows that people are increasingly willing to travel for the experiences they care about most,” said Christina Bennett, a consumer travel trends expert at Priceline. That point was made by Taylor’s Swift’s “Eras” tour, which had fans flying around the globe and which eventually racked up $2 billion in ticket sales.
Shanty Maraj, 25, lives in New York and is hosting two friends during the residency. “You have to have some treats and say yes to everything because you never know when it’s going to happen again,” she said. “Realistically, when is Harry Styles going to be in New York again for 30 nights?”
Although Mr. Styles is performing in London and Amsterdam for the European leg of his tour, New York is his only scheduled stop in the United States. Some fans are making the trip on a budget, opting for nosebleed tickets, crashing with friends, or booking with miles, while others are splashing out and spending thousands on flights and hotels. Some are also using the moment as an excuse to explore other activities in the city.
Last week, as fans waited in online queues for tickets, we talked to Styles enthusiasts who had already secured their seats about their plans. Their answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Sissilly Hawkins, 23
Ms. Hawkins is flying to the concert from Charleston, S.C., though she has yet to book her flights. She has tickets for a Saturday night in September, and plans to spend the rest of the weekend in the city.
How long have you been a Harry Styles fan?
I’ve been a massive Harry Styles fan for a long time. When he announced this concert, I was like “I will be there. I have to be there.” For my 21st birthday, my friends threw me a surprise party that was Harry Styles-themed.
Have you seen him in concert before?
I saw him at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and then in Raleigh a few years later. The first time I saw him, my parents took me because I was a minor. We made a road trip out of it. The second time I saw him, in 2021, I was a freshman in college and I didn’t have my car but I wasn’t going to miss him. I posted on Instagram Stories to see if anyone was going to the same show and someone I’d met one time at a school event swiped up. I tagged along!
Where are you staying in New York?
One of my best friends lives in Manhattan, so I’ll stay with her. When she saw that Harry was doing the residency she knew I was going to try and get tickets and she reached out to me because she knows I love him.
How much is this trip costing you?
I spent $129 on tickets in the 200s section, which isn’t bad. I’m trying to keep other costs for the weekend on a budget.
Adrianne Gold, 45
Ms. Gold, who lives in Seattle, is treating herself and her 22-year-old daughter to the flight to New York and the concert. She booked their airline tickets and hotel as soon as the residency was announced,
How long have you been a Harry Styles fan?
My daughter, Juliet, introduced me to Harry several years ago. She’s grown and doesn’t live at home anymore, so his music has been a really fun way for us to stay connected.
Have you traveled for a concert before?
Yes! For Harry’s Love on Tour 2023 in Madrid.
How much is this going to cost you?
Tickets were $700 each. We haven’t booked flights and hotel yet, but my best guess is about $6,000 for two nights.
What else do you want to see or do in New York?
Juliet and I have been to New York City separately but never together, so I’m excited to experience the city with her. We both love museums, and will likely take advantage of (little-brother-free) museum time, maybe do some shopping and definitely have a couple of great meals.
Jessica Seto, 21
Jessica Seto is flying to the concert from Burnaby, in British Columbia, Canada. She’s a third year biology student at the University of British Columbia Vancouver and works part-time in retail. She previously had tickets to see Mr. Styles in 2021 in Vancouver, but he canceled. “Hence the big trip to New York,” she said.
How long have you been a Harry Styles fan?
Since 2010. I remember seeing him on “The X Factor” for the first time when I was 5 years old.
Have you traveled for a concert before?
Yes, but not as far as New York City. My parents drove me down to Seattle to see Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour on July 22, 2023.
How much is this trip costing you?
My ticket for the lower bowl at M.S.G. on opening night was 1,624.51 Canadian dollars (about $1,190). My flights and hotel are already booked, that was a total of 1,261.52 Canadian dollars. In total I’ve spent 2,886.03 Canadian dollars for my vacation so far, but I plan to book maybe one or two Broadway shows as well.
Are you splurging or trying to do this on a budget?
Both. I have been saving up for many years for a One Direction reunion tour, but since Liam’s passing, I decided to allocate this money to Harry’s next tour.
How long are you staying in New York?
A week. I booked my flights and hotels the day Harry announced the tour, so I decided to stay in New York for the duration of his three August shows, depending on which I could get tickets to, just to increase the chance of attending. Plus, New York is one of my favorite cities in the world after London, so staying longer won’t hurt.
Megan Kosak, 24
Ms. Kosak booked her flight from Los Angeles to New York within an hour of getting her concert tickets. She will be spending the weekend with Ms. Maraj and another friend. They have tickets for an August concert; Ms. Kosak is arriving on Thursday and staying until Sunday.
How long have you been a Harry Styles fan?
I grew up with One Direction and watched them evolve. Supporting them as individual artists now is so cool. I missed out on his last residency here. I’ve been dying to see Harry in New York.
Have you traveled for a concert before?
Yes, to see Harry in Nashville with friends. We drove up, got a hotel room, got ready together while listening to his music. We walked over to the venue and took photos. Everyone was wearing their feather boas. I remember our view was so good and it felt like such a steal —$364 and we were in the lower bowl.
How much is this trip costing you?
I’m doing whatever I need to do to get there: I used miles for my flight, paid my friend Shanty from my Venmo balance, so I didn’t spend that much. You could say I did some girl math and it’s not costing that much. We are also already talking about our outfits, which will add some cost.
What else do you want to see or do in New York?
Whatever my friends want to do, I will be up for. We’re seeing if bars are doing Harry Styles nights. Maybe there’s some bars putting stuff on. I haven’t been to New York City in the summer for fun, just for work, so it’ll be fun to enjoy shopping, walking outside and going to all the bookstores.
Molly Davis, 16
Ms. Davis, of Orlando, Fla., is flying to the concert with her parents and her sister. During the first presale, she was in a Ticketmaster queue, but failed to get seats. While she was in a queue for the second presale, her father, Michael Davis, went on StubHub and got four tickets for the family in the 200 section at $460 each.
Mr. Davis said that he knew his daughter would want to see Mr. Styles in concert and that when she found out all the shows would be in New York, “The look in her eyes was just ‘Oh, no.’”
He added, “Luckily through credit cards, airline points, Hilton Honors points and everything else, we are throwing this together mostly on points.”
How long have you been a Harry Styles fan?
I have been a fan since One Direction when I was 2. Me and my sister loved them and Harry was my favorite member.
Have you traveled for a concert before?
We drove two hours to see Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour a few years ago.
Have you seen Harry Styles live before?
No.
How long are you staying in New York?
About a day and a half.
What else do you want to see or do in New York?
We each get to choose one thing we really want to do and everyone will do it together. I want to see the big Barnes & Noble and I want to see Times Square all lit up.
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