Taylor Swift was among the most-popular figures around the NFL world last season. We’re not kidding. The pop sensation’s presence at games that her beau, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, played in, led to an uptick in viewership.
Swifties played a large role in the increasing brand of a league that remains second-to-none in North American professional sports.
Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has outed himelf as a Swifty. Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, too.
“That was pretty impressive. “She’s tough, man,” Belichick said of Taylor Swift’s four-hour performance in New England last spring. She stood out there and played right through.”
As old hats around the NFL take a liking to Swift, it’s becoming apparent that those who make the decisions are also taking her celebrity into account.
Swift’s Eras Tour will continue through December. It consists of 152 shows and started back in March of last year. It’s considered one of the greatest tours in the history of music.
So, what does this have to do with the NFL? There is a conspiracy theory going around that the league’s schedule for the 2024 season was tailored around Swift to an extent (literally, no pun intended).
Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs are slated to play the Buffalo Bills in Western New York on November 17. Coincidentally (or not), Swift’s six-show run in Toronto is taking place at the same time. Her first slate of shows at the Rogers Centre run from Nov. 14-16. It’s roughly a two-hour drive from Toronto to Buffalo. Get what we’re stepping in?
Related: Taylor Swift Gives Sweet Nod To Travis Kelce’s Jersey Number As He Attends Her Paris Concert
NFL Admits Taylor Swift Tour Had Impact On 2024 Schedule
Kinda…
Let us explain. NFL vice president of programming Mike North confirmed to Fox Sports that Swift’s tour did impact their schedule to an extent. That’s only because some of her tour locations and dates coincide with NFL venues on Sunday.
- Hard Rock Stadium: Sunday, October 20 (Miami Dolphins)
- Caesars Superdome: Sunday, October 27 (New Orleans Saints)
- Lucas Oil Stadium: Sunday, November 3 (Indianapolis Colts)
To the extent that the NFL planned for that Chiefs-Bills game in November? Well, the league is pushing back against that narrative.
“I saw a lot of conspiracy theorists talking about Kansas City at Buffalo middle of the season, right when Taylor’s playing Toronto,” North said on Thursday. “That one definitely did not hit our radar screen.”
Settled or a wide-ranging conspiracy? We’ll never know.
What we do know is that Taylor Swift will likely be on hand for the Chiefs’ date against Buffalo on November 17. No word yet on whether she plans on joining in on the antics of Bills fans ahead of the game. Though, that would likely make her the NFL’s equivalent of royalty.
Related: Travis Kelce Fires Back After He’s Accused Of Being A Bad Influence On Taylor Swift
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