Clark Hunt, Taylor Swift Perry Knotts/Getty Images ; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt gave Taylor Swift some major props on how she’s helped the team grow the past two seasons.
“I think indirectly the NFL has seen an impact,” Hunt, 59, said of Swift’s sway on football in a Thursday, February 6, interview with CNBC Sport in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX. “Certainly our fan base took a big leap forward last year, particularly with female [fans] — specifically young female fans.”
Hunt acknowledged that the increase in women fans was most likely thanks to Swift, 35, as she began dating tight end Travis Kelce during the 2023-2024 season. Swift made headlines for her multiple appearances at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City as she cheered on Kelce, 35, and his teammates all the way to Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs ultimately beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22.
“I think we had something, like, a 30 percent growth in our fan base, which is pretty significant even for a team that won the Super Bowl,” he explained. “So you definitely have to give Taylor a little bit of credit for that.”
The Chiefs CEO also shared that the Chiefs growth didn’t stop there.
“We still get a lot of eyeballs this year,” he said. “We’ve had several games [that] have broken records and I think Taylor’s a little bit a part of that.”
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The Chiefs had an impressive run this past year — and Swift continued to cheer on Kelce and his teammates from the stands. In the regular season, the Chiefs only lost one game before continuing to dominate in the playoffs. They secured their spot in another Super Bowl on January 26 after beating the Buffalo Bills — who were the sole team to score a victory when facing the Chiefs in the season — in the AFC Championship.
As the Chiefs gear up for Super Bowl LIX, they’re looking to make history. If they defeat the Philadelphia Eagles — just like they did in 2023 — the Chiefs will become the first team in NFL history to win three back-to-back Super Bowls.
Perry Knotts/Getty Images Taylor Swift won over the entire Kansas City Chiefs organization after she started dating tight end Travis Kelce. “Everybody stayed away [and] just let [Travis] do what he was doing,” starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes said during a December 2023 interview on CBS Mornings. “Then he started bringing Taylor around. He realized how […]
Much like last year, Swift will be in attendance for the big name according to Travis’ brother, Jason Kelce. After winning, Swift and Travis shared a sweet smooch while celebrating on the field.
“I think everybody’s coming,” Jason said in an interview with People published on Tuesday, February 4. “I mean, I don’t want to speak for everybody, but I think obviously, our whole family. I believe, obviously Trav and Taylor, and his family and his friends. I mean, Trav always travels, like, full.”
