Since Taylor Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was announced, it has sparked a frenzy among football fans and “Swifties” alike. It has also led many Taylor Swift fans to take an interest in football and keep an eye out for her occasional appearances in the stands at Chiefs games, including the recent Super Bowl game.
The couple’s relationship has led many football fans to express their support, but some others to show hate towards the singer and the way her presence at the games sometimes eclipses the game itself.
English teacher Julia Ogden has had a prior interest in football, but now this interest is heightened as one of her favorite artists is involved with the sport she likes. She appreciates the way Swift has helped bridge the gap between football fans and those who never expressed interest before.
”I’ve heard of so many stories of young girls sitting down to watch football with their dads because they might get a chance to see Taylor Swift and then staying because they’re asking questions and actually interested in the game and creating special bonds that they might not have before,” Ogden said.
The pair’s relationship has paid off even more for the NFL. Since Swift and Kelce started dating in August of 2023, Google searches for “Travis Kelce,” “Kansas City Chiefs,” and “Taylor Swift” have skyrocketed, reaching up to 83 percent in search volume in that same month. The spike in popularity has led to more attendance in Chief games and around 400% increase in sales for Travis Kelce’s jersey.
According to a post by Apex Marketing Group, Taylor Swift has accumulated over 331.5 million dollars for the NFL in different types of media. Despite a positive reaction from the NFL, many football fans have shown hate towards Swift’s involvement as a spectator in the sport to the point where many celebrities like Charles Barkley and Adele have taken a stand on the matter, advocating for Swift.
As their relationship continues, the couple will have to deal with both the hate received on both sides and their fanbase changing drastically. Their relationship has opened up doors for a whole new audience and a whole new demographic for the game of football and maybe even Taylor Swift’s music.
