I admit, my football knowledge outside of Auburn High and the University of Texas is limited. Every year I do watch the superbowl, but NFL is really just out of my league. I am aware that specfically the Kansas City Chiefs have won the superbowl twice in the last few years, once in 2020 and most recently in 2023.
Seperatley, my Taylor Swift phase ended about seven years ago. I will confess that I do have a couple of her songs on my playlist, but it would be a long shot to claim that I am anywhere near being a "Swiftie". Honestly, the only way I knew anything about her culture, until recently, was through friends and Instagram.
Emphasis on "until recently". Since I don't live under a rock, I was made aware of her breakup with her boyfriend of six years, Joe Alywn. And then Travis Kelce came along.
I refuse to call this a "relationship" when, despite violent protests from Swifties I've spoken with, this is the most obvious PR stunt I have ever seen.
The only member of the Kansas Chiefs that I, and frankly any non-NFL fans, knew of until now was Patrick Mahomes. But now anyone with access to a phone knows another Cheifs player. Here are the reasons why this is a perfectly crafted stunt bringing money, press and fame to Kelce, Swift, the Chiefs and the NFL in general.
1. The Whole Fam
Who's Travis Kelce? A valid question anyone would've asked (except Chiefs fans) until a couple of monthes ago when the rumors began that he and Swift were dating. Now you have aproximatley 274.1 million new obseesive Swiftie eyes on the man. And his mom. And her "famous cookies". Funny how we start to see Swift hang out with Donna Kelce and then she's on the "Today" show with her cookies. Last week I saw an ad with Kelce and his mom, and her cookies. I wouldn't have known who these people were, if not for Swift.
2. Sales Are Up
Since the alleged "relationship" began, Kelce's jeresy sales are up 400%, his Instagram followership is up 276% and the NFL is absolutley diving into the Swifte attention. Both the chiefs and the NFL have begun to "taylor" their social media for the Swifties. Just Yesterday I saw a Chiefs Instagram post of Kelce in gear with the caption, "Red (Chief's Version)", a double Swift reference to Swift's album "Red" and her re-release of her albums (which we'll come back to later), labeled "(Taylor's Version)". The amount of money the NFL is getting from sales, TV viewership, Social Media attention and ticket sales is astounding. This is a genius partnership between the NFL and Swift that results in profit for both.
3. Swift's Sales
When attempting to enlighten Swifties I come across, every time I am greeted with the response: "How is Taylor benefiting from this?", and I admit, this made me think. Her recent "era's tour" plus it's movie have raked billions in for Swift. But think back to "(Taylor's Version)". Swift claims that her albums were "stolen" from her, and while trying to own her music is very mutch jusified, the re-releases of the albums is an example of an unnecessary pull for money and attention. I listened to "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and the orginal "Speak Now" and was genuinley surprised to hear that despite some new unreleased songs, the music was really the same. And the Swifties ATE IT UP. Swift could stop now and live the rest of her life extremely comfortably without lifting a finger, but she won't. It's become exceedingly clear that she desires a constant and fresh way of attention keeping eyes on her.
4. The "Endgame"
So, how will this all end up? This is a stretch, but I think I see a possibility with this stunt and where it might end up. Currently, during the third week of October, the Chiefs have six wins and one lose, with that lose being by a singular point to the Detroit Lions. A team that good is destined to head to the super bowl, as happened last year. Swift has denied a superbowl performance, but if perhaps her "boyfriend's" team ends up on the field, so might Taylor. The attention that would be brought to this occurrance would bring an obsence amount of press AND money to Swift and the NFL, the perfect sort of "Surprise" the Swifties love and recieve from their idol so often.
Tell me I'm wrong. As somone who refers to herself as a "mastermind" and has managed to ensare millions of people of billions of their money just to want more, it's no wonder that her next move is no doubt a chance to promote herself and the NFL gaining them both unnecessary fame and money.
