Taylor Swift’s presence at the Kansas City Chiefs game, where she observed star player Travis Kelce in action, created significant buzz on the internet. However, it extended beyond mere online conversation; it had a real and measurable influence.
Kelce’s jersey sales shot up after Swift’s appearance at Arrowhead Stadium. According to Fanatics, a sports merchandise company, Kelce’s jersey became one of the top five best-selling NFL jerseys on that Sunday. They reported a nearly 400% increase in sales across the Fanatics network of websites, including NFLShop.com.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce jersey sales jump nearly 400% following Taylor Swift appearance at Arrowheadhttps://t.co/8163f8dmtO pic.twitter.com/rFfIGzYTLE
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 26, 2023
This surge in sales coincided with the day Swift was seen at the Chiefs vs. Bears game, seated in one of Arrowhead’s glass-enclosed suites alongside Kelce’s mother, Donna.
Swift’s presence also made waves in the television ratings department. Fox Sports revealed that the game attracted 24.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched NFL game of the weekend. Although this number was slightly down (about 8%) from the same time frame the previous year, there was a notable increase in one demographic – viewership among females aged 12-17 rose nearly 8% compared to the previous year. The broadcast also led in female viewership across all major demographics.
After the game, Kelce, who caught a 3-yard touchdown pass during the game, left the stadium with Swift by his side. The Chiefs’ locker room was abuzz with excitement about the news, with coach Andy Reid humorously claiming he had a hand in setting them up.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared that Kelce had informed him “at the last minute” about Swift’s attendance, adding a playful note that sometimes Kelce’s statements are hard to take at face value. Mahomes admitted to feeling “a little pressure” to throw a touchdown pass to Kelce, which he successfully did in the third quarter.
Rumors about a connection between Swift and the two-time Super Bowl champion had been circulating for months, particularly after Kelce expressed his disappointment on his podcast for not being able to meet Swift during her tour stop in Kansas City. He later revealed on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he had invited Swift to watch him play.
Swift is presently on a break from her Eras Tour, set to resume on November 9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Swift’s trip to Arrowhead also prompted the NFL to join in on the excitement. As of Tuesday, the NFL’s bio on X included the phrase “NFL (Taylor’s Version),” along with a photo of Swift and Donna Kelce from the game.
