The Kansas City Chiefs scored a victory over the New England Patriots this Sunday, but sideline celebrity Taylor Swift commanded her fair share of limelight at Gillette Stadium too. The pop icon, fresh off celebrating her 34th birthday, appeared in support of her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, in a 27-17 win for the visiting team. Swift, noticeably clad in a Chiefs hat, was spotted arriving at the stadium and shown several times on the stadium's videoboard, to the delight of her fans and football spectators alike, Boston.com reports.
The game's shift from Monday Night Football to a Sunday afternoon slot seemed to draw less attention than Swift's presence, particularly from 'Swifties' who eyed the game as an alternative to sold-out concerts. "We tried to get tickets to her concert but we couldn't, so this is the closest thing we could do to get Taylor tickets," Alison Robinson of Andover told CBS Boston. Notably, the NFL made history by rescheduling a Monday night game for the first time, driven maybe by the Patriots' less-than-stellar season record.
🚨| Taylor Swift does little kiss to camera as Scott Swift proudly shows off Chiefs merch at today’s Chiefs vs Patriots game!
— The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) December 17, 2023
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Beyond football, the "Taylor Swift Economy" seems to be booming. Stations like NESN and NBC Sports Boston caught glimpses of Swift, with one video showing Kelce taking a moment before the game to look at a poster of Swift inside the stadium—all while the U.S. Travel Association estimates Swift's Eras Tour brought in a gargantuan $10 billion nationwide. Swift's influence on the economy and culture is tangible whether she's performing to sold-out crowds or cheering from a private box, as indicated by CBS Boston.
Even Patriots coach Bill Belichick seems to be tuned into the Swift phenomenon, noting in a past radio appearance his admiration for the star's resilience. "She's tough, man," Belichick reportedly said of Swift's rainy performance. "She stood out there and played right through it," according to WCVB. Swift was also seen reacting to a controversial play involving Kelce, which led to the Chiefs settling for a field goal. The emotions were evident, as the singer was clearly invested in both the game and her beau's performance.
Swift, who has been seen supporting Kelce throughout several games this season, will take a break from The Eras Tour until February, just in time to perhaps attend the Super Bowl should Kelce's Chiefs make it through the playoffs. With a string of international performances queued up, the pop star shows no signs of slowing down, but her support for Kelce and his team circles back shades of loyalty and affection to the millions already won over by her music and performance, a sentiment echoed by WCVB.
