NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently spoke about the positive impact Taylor Swift has had on the league. Speaking at a press conference at the Super Bowl LVIII venue in Las Vegas, Goodell mentioned that having the “Taylor Swift effect” is a good thing for the NFL. He praised Swift’s ability to draw in a new audience, particularly young women, and create a buzz around the games.
During a #SBLVIII press conference, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called the Taylor Swift effect ‘a positive’ for the league. ‘Obviously, it creates a buzz. It creates another group of young fans, particularly young women,’ Goodell added https://t.co/M8aONfKzrg pic.twitter.com/2AkcBOQKHe
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 6, 2024
“People are talking about the game today that weren’t talking about the game yesterday,” Goodell admitted to reporters before noting “and my whole family are Swifties…”
“Having the Taylor Swift effect is also a positive,” he added. “Listen, both Travis and Taylor are wonderful young people. They seem very happy.”
“She knows great entertainment, and I think that’s why I think she loves NFL football.”
Roger Goodell Loves Him Some Taylor Swift
Yea, Roger, and the “Taylor Swift Effect” doesn’t exactly hurt your wallet either. The manufactured storylines and the WWE-style buildup to the Swift/Travis Kelce ‘romance’ have lined Goodell’s pockets pretty well.
Increased viewership by drawing in fans who don’t normally watch the sport means more $$$. This is why the constant panning of cameras to Swift is an obvious attempt to drain every penny out of her through exposure.
The NFL can deny it all they want, but it’s obvious they’re using Swift. Whether it’s an intentional mutual partnership or not well … of course it is.
Goodell: No, The NFL Is Not Scripted
Goodell also dismissed the notion that the NFL is scripted to benefit the Kansas City Chiefs and keep Taylor Swift in the spotlight. I mean, sure they played like garbage most of the season, and the league readily admits Swift brings more viewers in, but KC legit just magically turned everything around in time for the playoffs.
“The idea this was in a script and pre-planned … anybody saying that doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” said Goodell.
Bruh, the NBA thinks the NFL is a little too scripted.
Forbes notes that the NFL has often struggled to increase its female fanbase. And then Swift strolled along and suddenly this happened:
Viewership also hit a new peak, with a 53% increase in female viewers aged 12 to 17, a 34% increase in female viewers above 35, and a 24% increase in female viewers aged 18 to 24, compared to the season-to-date average of Sunday Night Football.
Honestly, we’re not sure why Roger Goodell would even comment on the “Taylor Swift Effect.” If you’re trying to prove the NFL is not intentionally marketing her relationship with Kelce, then you’d say nothing.
Instead, his comments add fuel to those of us conspiracy theorists who think she’s little more than a marketing ploy and they’re all in on it.
A report last month indicates Swift has created a “brand value” of $331.5 million for the Chiefs and the NFL. Goodell’s entire tenure has been about softening the game to generate more offense and increase viewership which leads to more $$$. His constant playing to the social justice topic du jour is another effort to draw in more money.
And none of it hurts his annual salary which has exploded to nearly $70 million. Goodell was hired in 2006 for a reported compensation of about $6.5 million.
Using Taylor Swift to help his bottom line is not a conspiracy theory, it’s a reasonable assumption.
