The rumored romance between Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is all anyone can talk about this week. The singer-songwriter was spotted in a suite alongside Kelce’s mother in Arrowhead stadium on Sunday and the pair were seen together after the game. Now, Kelce and the NFL have the attention from millions of Swifites, or mega Taylor Swift fans. After Swift’s appearance on Sunday, viewership of Sunday’s game soared, Kelce’s jersey sales increased roughly 400%, and the football player’s podcast climbed the charts.
Lisa Delpy Neirotti is the director of the MS in Sport Management Program and an associate professor of sport management at the George Washington University. She has been a professor of sport, event and tourism management at GW for more than 30 years. Her areas of expertise include sponsorships, event and facility management, sport marketing, economic impact, sport tourism, and sport for social good. Neirotti can discuss the impact of Swift and Kelce’s rumored relationship on Kelce’s personal brand and on the NFL.
“Travis Kelce's life changed overnight and will never be the same. He is now under the microscope of 100+ million Swifties (Taylor Swift Fans) who are extremely passionate and protective over their idol. The Swifties want to know everything possible about Travis and have embraced him, as noted in the extraordinary spike in jersey sales (400% increase after Sunday’s game, making him a top-five seller in the NFL). In addition, his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” co-hosted with his brother climbed the ranks and is now first on the Apple charts and fourth in overall Spotify’s rankings but the top sports podcast.”
When it comes to branding and marketing, Neirotti adds that the increased attention will open new doors for the two-time Super Bowl Champion and for the league.
“There are many new opportunities for Travis but a risk reward analysis should be conducted for each and personal decisions around short and long term objectives should be made. Whatever happens with the couple, the NFL is a winner with increased female awareness and viewership as well as jersey sales.”
If you would like to speak with Professor Delpy Neirotti, please contact Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at [email protected].
-GW-