Pop megastar Taylor Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the New York Jets in New Jersey, fueling rumors about her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. This celebrity sighting has had a significant impact on the National Football League’s ticket sales and television viewership.
During the game, NBC’s cameras captured Swift in a luxury box along with other notable celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Blake Lively. As the Chiefs scored their first touchdown, Swift was seen celebrating in the suite, despite it being Isaiah Pacheco who crossed the goal line, not Kelce.
In contrast to her previous appearance wearing a red-and-white Chiefs jacket in Missouri, Swift opted for a black top and leather jacket in the Jets’ home stadium. This change in attire has further fueled speculation about her relationship with Kelce.
Swift’s presence at the game not only adds to the rumors surrounding her romance with Kelce but also provides a marketing boost for the NFL. The Jets’ ticket sales for their game against the Chiefs skyrocketed after Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs’ previous game. In fact, sales in a single day more than doubled the previous record for this season, making Sunday’s game the second-highest selling game of the NFL season.
The demand for tickets was evident, with the cheapest nosebleed seats priced at $81 and resale tickets at the lower level reaching close to $9,000.
Swift’s influence extends beyond football stadiums. Her ongoing Eras Tour, which has sold out venues across the United States, including MetLife Stadium, has drawn over 200,000 fans. Last week, she surprised her devoted fanbase, known as “Swifties,” by appearing in Kelce’s suite during the Chiefs’ home game in Kansas City.
The upcoming release of Swift’s concert film, as well as advertisements for it, were featured during the game broadcast. Gambling sites even offered Swift-themed bets, such as betting against Kelce scoring a touchdown, which was titled the “FriENDZONE.”
Sunday Night Football on NBC also capitalized on Swift’s popularity by featuring a promotional video with her song “Welcome to New York” playing in the background. The caption read, “Taylor Made for Sunday Night.”
Swift’s presence at the Chiefs’ game on September 24 had a significant impact on viewership, particularly among women ages 18-49, which saw a 63% increase compared to the previous week.
Regarding their relationship, both Swift and Kelce have remained coy. When asked about Swift on a podcast, Kelce jokingly responded to his brother, Jason, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, saying, “Shout out to Taylor for coming through and seeing me rock the stage.” He described her as looking “amazing” and found her enthusiasm during the game and the excitement of Chiefs fans seeing her there as “absolutely hysterical.”
In conclusion, Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs’ game has generated significant buzz and speculation about her relationship with Travis Kelce. It has also had a substantial impact on ticket sales and viewership for the NFL.
