The unforeseen love story between 14-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has roused the attention of the media and generated more fans in America’s sport than ever before.
Swift and Kelce were rumored to have started dating in September, shortly before the 2023-2024 season. Nothing was confirmed nor denied about the initial rumors until Swift continued to attend the weekly games.
The Chiefs were already considered a playoff contender starting week one, but needed a spark somewhere to further boost their chances of winning back-to-back Super Bowls. Swift gave them that flare, also known as the “Taylor effect”.
That effect was real when the Chiefs completed the “Cinderella Story” by winning 25-22 against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 11.
The Super Bowl always attracts millions of fans around the world, but this year’s spectacle brought a record 123.7 million viewers. The pop singer’s presence at the game grabbed the attention of “Swifties” and others that did not used to be football fans.
According to a Seton Hall University poll, 41% of people between 18-34 years old said Swift’s attendance influenced their decision to watch.
Knowing that Swift would appear in-person during the games influenced daughters to bond with their fathers. The music artist’s profound reputation over younger generations opened up a world between two completely different demographics.
The clash between entertainment and sports is a major deal and could have a very significant impact on the game of football in seasons to come.
Brands associated with the NFL might try to loop in more popular figures to further develop the ties between the sports and entertainment industry. The NFL would see a notable surge in popularity around the world with all the attention Swift and possibly other celebrities may bring in the future.
The new wave of fans will amplify the publicity of the league, but longtime fans (consisting mostly of males) are likely to oppose this change. With all the engrossment of public figures, it would take away from the actual game, which is what most people criticized Swift over.
“The NFL might become more of a business than a sport. They’ll just focus on money [by] showing these superstars more than they [will] care about the actual sport,” sophomore Ben Sohmer told The Fanscotian.
The cameras panned on Swift several times throughout each of the games, leading to many complaints that she was getting too much coverage. Obviously, she is not in charge of the camera crew, but the broadcasters should have considered the irritation fans would feel seeing her face over and over.
“I don’t want to see Taylor Swift on my TV. I want to watch the game. From the NFL’s perspective, they’re making a lot of money. If I were them, why wouldn’t I show her? But, from a fan’s view I hate seeing [Swift] on my screen,” Sohmer reiterated.
I am not against the idea of the NFL intertwining with famous personalities, but viewers should not be overwhelmed with recurring segments of one person, especially when they are not a player or coach. Then, devoted football enthusiasts will be able to watch the game they love without disruptive appearances.
You should expect to see the music superstar along for the ride again next season as the Chiefs look to make history by being the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. However, I hope the media will tone down the amount of content regarding Swift because it is getting old.
