How Travis Kelce is benefiting from rumored relationship with Taylor Swift
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce benefits from the "Taylor Swift effect."
After the 12-time Grammy winner — whom he's rumored to be dating — appeared with Kelce's mother at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, his jersey sales soared.
The Associated Press reported Fanatics saw "nearly a 400 percent increase" in Kelce jersey sales. They spiked the day Swift was spotted in Kansas City. Per Pro Football Talk, the two-time Super Bowl champion also gained 300K Instagram followers.
Neither have confirmed if they're dating, but they did walk together following a 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. "I set them up," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid quipped in a postgame news conference.
All jokes aside, Kelce isn't the lone benefactor in his rumored romance with Swift. The NFL could also see a massive windfall. Per Fox Sports PR, the matchup between the Chiefs and Bears scored the week's most-watched telecast of any network, with 24.3M viewers.
Swift's influence is immense. CNN Business reported that her Eras tour could generate $2.2B in North American ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing tour ever. Consequently, her connection to the star TE will attract new fans to the league.
"The first piece of tangible proof might come on Sunday night," wrote PFT's Mike Florio. "When plenty of youngsters, otherwise disinterested in the NFL, will be tuning in to see Kelce's Chiefs play the Jets. The ratings for an Aaron Rodgers-less game will be very revealing."
Don't be surprised if the NFL milks the storyline since it raises the league's profile. If Swift attends the game on Sunday night, expect the NBC cameras to pan to her after Kelce scores a TD.
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