The German city of Gelsenkirchen, which temporarily renamed itself "Swiftkirchen" this past July, has completed an auction of its temporary road signs. The name change was part of festivities surrounding Taylor Swift's concerts on July 17, 18, and 19. The city revealed it received about 1,400 bids from both local and international fans for the 20 signs.
The highest bid reached 3,000 euros ($3,245), with the top 20 bidders being notified by email. Gelsenkirchen did not reveal the total auction sum as payments are still pending. Notably, one of the winning bids originated from outside Germany, although specific details were not provided.
The auction proceeds will benefit several local causes, including a center for girls, a food bank for children, and a women's shelter in Gelsenkirchen. Additionally, one "Swiftkirchen" sign has been permanently installed in Bonn's Haus der Geschichte, Germany's museum of post-World War II history. Gelsenkirchen, a former coal mining hub now among Germany's poorest cities, is known for its second-division soccer team, Schalke 04, and its stadium, which hosts various international events. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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