Taylor Swift has not only brought new fans and media attention to the NFL since she started dating Travis Kelce, but her influence has also helped the league rack up a staggering $1 billion in brand value.
The so-called “Taylor Swift effect” on the National Football League (NFL) has become undeniable, with new data shedding light on her tremendous impact. Since her rumored relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce began, the league has seen a remarkable increase in its popularity, especially among Swift’s vast fan base. According to a recent report, the superstar’s presence has added over $1 billion to the NFL’s brand value over the past two years.
Swift’s Impact on the NFL
A report by MarketWatch, based on data from Apex Marketing, reveals that Swift’s influence has been monumental. Since she began attending Kansas City Chiefs games in September 2023, her visibility at the events sparked a media frenzy that brought new fans and more attention to the NFL. During the period from September 2023 to January 2024, Swift’s appearances generated $366.75 million in equivalent brand value for the league.
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In the 2024-25 season, her presence contributed an additional $634.3 million to the NFL’s brand value. With the Chiefs heading to the Super Bowl and Swift expected to attend, her impact is projected to surpass $1 billion in total.
Apex Marketing’s Eric Smallwood explained, “The media blitz continued for the NFL and the Chiefs before the start of the 2024 NFL season… Taylor was visible at games, and those appearances garnered media attention from both sports outlets and entertainment media outlets not normally covering the NFL.”
Travis Kelce’s Rising Popularity
Taylor’s influence has also extended to Kelce’s social media presence. The tight end’s Instagram following has surged from 2.7 million followers in September 2023 to 6.7 million today. This increase has been largely attributed to the influx of young women—many of whom are Swift’s fans—joining Kelce’s social media fanbase. The NFL also noted that nearly half of the new followers on its TikTok account in 2024 were women, further emphasizing the crossover appeal Swift has brought to the sport.
As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl 59, the combination of Swift’s attendance and the already high media buzz is sure to make for a historic evening of publicity and fan engagement.
The Super Bowl on Sunday, February 11, 2025, promises to be more than just a football game. With Taylor Swift in attendance, alongside other notable figures, the event is expected to become a massive media spectacle.
