Gelsenkirchen Auctions 'Swiftkirchen' Signs to Support Local Charities

Gelsenkirchen, renamed 'Swiftkirchen' temporarily for Taylor Swift’s concerts, auctioned signs with the new name. The city received 1,400 bids, with the highest at 3,000 euros. Proceeds aid local charities. A sign is now displayed at the Haus der Geschichte museum in Bonn.

The German city of Gelsenkirchen, which temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” before American superstar Taylor Swift's mid-July concerts, received approximately 1,400 bids for the signs it put up with the new name, officials revealed Wednesday.

The city auctioned 20 original “Swiftkirchen” signs, attracting the highest bid of 3,000 euros (USD 3,245). The top 20 bidders will be notified via email, with a total auction sum to be disclosed after all payments are received. The auction also drew international interest, though specific details were not disclosed.

Proceeds from the auction are set to benefit a girls' center, a food bank for children, and a women's shelter in Gelsenkirchen. Additionally, one of the “Swiftkirchen” signs now resides at Germany's Haus der Geschichte museum in Bonn, commemorating post-World War II history.