Over the course of the 2023 NFL season, Taylor Swift was one of the larger names to receive attention during games. NFL fans weren’t exactly welcoming of her, with boos erupting throughout stadiums and nasty remarks being made online claiming it takes the meaning out of football and ruins the game. As an avid NFL watcher and supporter, I enjoy seeing Swift shown on screen because of the positive impacts she has already made throughout the league and will continue to just by being featured at games.
Swift was the last thing on my mind at the beginning of the season, and rightfully so, as she’s a musical icon. She attended one of the first regular season Kansas City Chiefs games which sparked rumors between her and starting tight end Travis Kelce. She continued to show up and show her support for the team and eventually, the two confirmed their relationship. Each game she attended, the cameras would find a way to pan to the suite she was in after Kelce made a play.
Swift is bringing a whole new demographic to the game. According to Nielsen Holdings, within the first three weeks of her making regular appearances at Chiefs games, female teen viewers increased by 53%. The 2024 Super Bowl only showcased her for less than a minute and it brought the most female viewers the finale game has ever seen. Not even a whole minute of one woman being shown almost brought an even ratio of male and female viewers.
That is something all football fans should want. The way I look at it, the more eyes on the sport, the better. It shouldn’t matter why they are watching or what gender they are. This game should be bringing people closer together.
It is America’s pastime. Instead of getting upset at one woman attending one team’s games, we should be embracing her and welcoming the new fans she brings.
It’s the same reason Eminem appears at Detroit Lions games, and Bradley Cooper shown watching the Philadelphia Eagles. Celebrities showing support for a team are going to bring in more viewers. The NFL is a business and will try to bring in new viewers however they can.
Showing her on the screen doesn’t interfere with the game at all. One thing I personally have seen fans saying online is she has nothing to do with the game, she shouldn’t be shown merely spectating. She takes too much time out of the four fifteen-minute quarters and doesn’t deserve the spotlight.
Throughout the week, I try to catch as many NFL games as possible. Every team has celebrities that come out and show their support. They are forced onto the broadcast for a couple of seconds and then the game resumes as scheduled. I don’t see how this could ruin the game.
I have yet to see Machine Gun Kelly receive any backlash for attending games in Cleveland. I don’t like any of Machine Gun Kelly’s records, but that doesn’t mean I should stop watching the Browns. If that’s the case, good luck finding a sporting event that a celebrity is in attendance and isn’t shown on screen.
The time that Swift is on screen is very limited. A typical NFL game takes around three hours from start to end. This includes game time, commercials, halftime and Swift showings. Out of that time this season, Swift was shown an average of 25 seconds while in attendance.
When there is time between plays, the broadcast will cut to one of the many drone cameras to showcase the stadium and fans’ reactions. The game continues regardless of who is shown. Swift may just be watching, but she is also dating one of the best tight ends in the NFL. They aren’t just showing her because she sells out stadiums, they are showing personal sides of her and Kelce that aren’t seen. They are human too, and the coverage of them holding each other and celebrating after games puts that in perspective.
As long as Kelce and Swift are together, the NFL will continue to put her in the spotlight, and I am all for it. It is a great way to close the gap between male and female viewers. It shows the personal aspects of her and Kelce that make them human. Most importantly, she is inviting more people to watch the amazing sport of football.