Taylor Swift: Did She Make an Impact on Football Fans?
As somebody living in Philadelphia, this is by far the best time to be living here. That is until you open up Twitter and realize that everybody else in the country wants the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Superbowl. Personally, I didn't think people loved the Chiefs that much. Sure they are a powerhouse in football, but they have won the Superbowl two times in a row. Isn’t time for a new, fun and fresh outcome?
Of course I have some bias towards this as I live in Philly. To say I am a football fan would be a lie. There are other sports I much prefer, but of course I still think the trophy should come to Philly. After hearing the opinions of non Eagles fans on social media I can't help but to think, what is creating this bias towards the Chiefs winning?
Sure the Philadelphia fans are definitely passionate, and extremely brutal. We have all seen the way they riot when their favorite team loses, or how they use the phrase “Go Birds” as their own language. Alot of football fans are like that though. They dress up, tailgate all day, and then yell when “somebody changes” the channel from Tubi. It's not like the Kansas City Chiefs are known for being a great organization. In fact, they had received a lot of backlash due to the comments of Harrison Butker and Brittany Mahomes. This leads me to believe there are other factors that lead towards this bias.
Which is where the power of celebrity influence comes in. When you idolize somebody you tend to feel drawn to the same things that they are. Especially when you are Taylor Swift, one of the biggest names in the world. Her fans are known for being some of the most loyal, instantly jumping onto anything Taylor expresses interest in. Whether it is musicians, clothing and in this case football. Swift has never explicitly stated that she’s a fan of the Chiefs. In fact, she has openly admitted to being a Philly fan. This newfound relationship with Travis Kelce is what is driving people to become Chiefs fans nowadays.
One of the most fascinating things about Taylor Swift and her fanbase is that she does not have to publicly state she likes something in order for her fans to provide overwhelming support. Remember the time where she posted a video of her playing pickleball? Then a few hours later her fans had found the skirt she was wearing in the video and sold it out. The smallest things will receive endless amounts of interest. Making her one of the most influential people in the world without even trying.
When looking at the support the Kansas City Chiefs receive, it seems as if Travis Kelce is receiving all the praise. Aside from being one of the best players on the team, many other things in his life have gained so much traction. His podcast, ‘New Heights,’ that he co-host with his brother, retired Eagles center, Jason Kelce had placed 14th on the podcast charts. Proving the point that Swifites will go all out for supporting their favorite persons favorite people. Fans seeing their idol be extremely happy due to a person makes them want to go and praise that person. Seeing how well Kelce treats Swift, makes the fans want to publicly show support and uplift him. Moreover, the amount of Tay-sightings (as the Swifties call them) have increased due to her being in a relationship has caused more excitement within the fandom. Creating a cycle of praise between Taylor, Travis and the fans. Besides, who wouldn't want a lot of content and photos of their favorite singer?
Ultimately, it is safe to say Taylor Swift has a lot of power. Especially when it comes to influencing fans to show support to certain things. Numerous people like to argue that Taylor Swift has ruined football culture. When in fact that's not true. She is not the reason why the Chiefs are doing so well. All Taylor did was bring a new demographic of people to football. That is why the Chiefs are so loved right now.
