MIAMI — On Saturday evening, Austin Swift handed a personal note from his sister, Taylor Swift, to Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy, who was seated in the VIP area during the Eras Tour concert.

Austin greeted Portnoy with, “Hey, my mom wants to meet you.”

Andrea Swift then walked over and embraced him, nearly moving the entrepreneur and internet star to tears. In an Instagram video, Portnoy recounted this unforgettable moment.

“It was amazing,” he shared in a recap video of the show. “I should be on top of the world right now, but this girl recently went viral for calling me out, saying, ‘I’m a fake Swiftie. True Swifties should dislike this guy. And, more importantly, Taylor’s team is not a fan of Dave.'”

The TikTok post that gained attention was created by fan @thatserynsworld and received around 50,000 likes. The account is now set to private. Portnoy shared a snippet of the video on his Instagram, expressing that the message affected him emotionally. He has been a strong supporter of presidential candidate Donald Trump, while Swift showed her support for Trump’s rival, Kamala Harris, back in September.

“I’m going to give her a free pass,” he stated. “To all Swifties out there, let’s just spread love.”

Portnoy shared that Austin Swift gave him a personal note from Taylor. She had addressed the white envelope with his name and added a doodle of a shining star. The reverse side featured a turquoise wax stamp with the number “13.”

“I’m thrilled to have you at the show tonight!” Swift’s message said. “Thank you for always being so supportive, so loyal, and for standing by me when many didn’t. I hope you enjoy yourself tonight!! Love, Taylor.” Although he didn’t get to meet her personally, he did connect with her mom and brother.

Dave’s Eras jacket makes its return to Miami

The Miami concert marked Portnoy’s second Eras Tour show. He previously attended the concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 26, 2023.

Prior to that, he bought a custom gray denim jacket on eBay for $200. He wore it to the show and then passed it to a fan on May 27, 2023. This initiated a chain of Swifties sharing the jacket from show to show.

The jacket continued its journey to different concerts in the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil throughout the rest of 2023. During a two-month winter pause, it was sent to Tokyo, where it encountered a customs delay. Eventually, it reached Australia and Europe, including a trip to Corneliusgasse in Vienna after three Eras Tour shows were canceled due to a thwarted terrorist attack.

“I really had no clue what it would turn into,” he shares from his dining room. “I was just looking for something to wear to the concert. I found this jacket and figured—although I’m a huge Taylor fan—it wouldn’t be something I’d wear regularly.”

Alyssa Dunn, one of the fans in Detroit, began an Instagram account to help manage the jacket’s travel around the world. Fans united, attaching notes and friendship bracelets in its pockets, until it finally returned to Portnoy’s home in Miami.

“It’s surreal to see all the bracelets,” he reflects as the colorful handmade jewelry is spread across his table. “It gave me goosebumps when I opened the package. I never imagined this would happen.”

During its travels to Australia, the jacket collected a mix of scents from various perfumes and sprays. One recipient in London even had it dry cleaned, so by the time it reached Portnoy again, it lost its unique aroma.

Miss Peaches’ special jacket

At Portnoy’s home, a welcome mat proudly states, “Home of the famous Miss Peaches.” With 1.4 million Instagram followers, this pit bull mix rescue is quite the celebrity. She warmly welcomes guests and wags her tail. She has also recently welcomed a new sibling, Pete the Beagle.

“I wish she could join me too,” he laughs when talking about attending the Eras Tour.

The original jacket creator, Hansel Velazquez, sent Portnoy a package containing a newly designed, sparkling jacket for Miss Peaches, the dedicated Swiftie. Portnoy helped her put on the jacket, and she wagged her tail eagerly for the camera. This version resembles Dave’s Eras Jacket but features a peach pattern under the collar.

“I’d love to keep the tradition alive,” Portnoy mentions about his jacket. He decided to pass it on to a young girl for the grand finale in Miami. With 15 more shows scheduled in New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Canada, the jacket will definitely be there.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” he remarks. “It could be a unique piece to frame and display in my office.”