The “Taylor Swift effect” was all that was on the minds of the media this week in the US as Superbowl Sunday now comes into full view.
When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was providing his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference only one person was forefront in the minds of reporters and it wasn’t a
In Las Vegas he was quizzed extensively about megastar Taylor Swift’s impact on America’s Game ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium.
Swift’s loyal support of boyfriend Travis Kelce of Kansas City Chiefs, is creating legions of new NFL fans. Swift, fresh off claiming a clutch of Grammy Awards has attended 12 games.
The Chiefs’ defeat of Baltimore Ravens on January 28th drew over 55 million viewers. That according to CBS Sports was the biggest ever for an AFC Championship game.
Just before that the playoff game between Chiefs and Buffalo Bills was the most-watched divisional playoff game in history with over 50 million viewers. You get the picture.
Goodell chuckled when asked about huge recent viewing numbers and the perceived “Taylor Swift effect.”
“I would tell you it’s because of the great competition. The competition has been off the charts this year.”
“70% of our games have been within one score in the fourth quarter. The young stars, the older stars, the amazing performances by teams – you see all that, that’s what fans ultimately love.”
But Goodell could not discount the impact of Swift’s relationship with Chiefs’ tight end Kelce. “Having the ‘Taylor Swift Effect’ is also a positive,” he said.
“Obviously, it creates a buzz. It creates another group of young fans, particularly young women that are interested in seeing, ‘Why is she going to this game? Why is she interested in this game?’ Besides Travis, she is a football fan, and I think that’s great for us.”
In addressing the bizarre conspiracy theories that Swift’s presence is all part of the NFL’s scripting of the season, Goodell pointed out how ridiculous such an idea is.
“I don’t think I’m that good a scripter or anybody on our staff!” he said.
Right-wing critics say their relationship is part of a plot to rig the NFL’s championship game and help get US President Joe Biden re-elected.
“The idea that this is within a script, this is pre-planned, is just nonsense. It’s frankly not even worth talking about.”
The presidential election is scheduled for November 5th, with Biden set to be the Democratic candidate.
“Listen, there is no way that I could have scripted that one, let’s just put it that way … She’s a remarkable performer. She knows great entertainment. I had the opportunity to go to two of her concerts with our girls and my wife. She’s the best of the best, and so having her come to NFL games, to have her be a part of that is nothing but a positive.”
The Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s Super Bowl, and Swift is expected to be in attendance – even though she is playing a gig in Tokyo the day before.
The Japanese Embassy in Washington assured fans that Swift could “comfortably arrive in Las Vegas” before the game, despite the 12-hour flight and 17-hour time difference.
Goodell admitted that all of his family are “Swifties” and said that it is impossible to ignore the increased interest in the NFL that the pop star has brought.
“We hear the stories, we see the data, people are talking about the game that weren’t talking about the game yesterday. And whatever that reason is, I’m good with it, as long as they get exposure to our game.
“Taylor is obviously a dynamo. Everything she touches, obviously, there are people following. And so we count ourselves fortunate and we welcome it.”
