CNN
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In 2007, singer and now-fashion mogul Jessica Simpson confirmed as much as a Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles soccer sport sporting a pink Cowboys jersey to assist her then-boyfriend Tony Romo, the Cowboy’s star quarterback.
The Cowboys misplaced that sport after Romo performed what’s broadly thought of one of many worst sport of his profession, statistically speaking. In some way, even if Romo was the precise human who performed the sport, Simpson was blamed by most of the group’s extra superstitious followers for the loss – a response broadly criticized for its misogynistic undertones.
Recalling the “unbelievable, ugly backlash” that Simpson receiving throughout her Romo period is what motivated Kansas Metropolis Chiefs supporter Todd Probability to welcome Taylor Swift’s loyal fanbase, generally known as Swifties, to Chiefs Kingdom with open arms in September, when the group’s celebrity tight finish Travis Kelce started dating the celebrity singer.
“I knew that there have been going to be poisonous parts inside that fan tradition that they have been coming into with the NFL,” Probability, 48, informed CNN in an interview. “I needed to allow them to know that there are many individuals in Chiefs Kingdom who’re welcoming.”
To Probability’s delight, he was additionally warmly welcomed by Swift’s followers. On his TikTok web page, Probability supplied his data of Chiefs historical past to the Swifties of the web and in return, the Swifties who took discover supplied him steerage on which of Swift’s many albums he ought to hearken to first.
In a world typically pushed by division, Probability and soccer lovers like him characterize a refreshing taste of fan – one open to not simply taking a crash course in Swift Music 101 however crashing right into a nook of music tradition that’s unexpectedly admirable for its energy, intimidating for its studying curve and rooted within the core perception that In Swift We Belief.
They’re Chiefties.
A swift understanding
Swift first appeared at a Chiefs sport in September earlier than the now-couple confirmed their romance. Her presence on the many Chiefs video games which have adopted has since been met with a wide range of opinion, however there’s a group of people that have discovered pleasure in each.
The amalgamation of the 2 has introduced Swifties into the thrilling world of soccer, and soccer followers into Swift’s intricate world of music and riddles. As Swift as soon as sang, name it what you need. However who’re the “Chiefties,” precisely?
When the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs first got here to the bustling Missouri city within the Nineteen Sixties, Probability’s father Harold was a passionate supporter of the group. He went on to turn into a part of a bunch of followers who known as themselves the “Wolfpack,” which was consultant of the group’s Wolf mascot.
Harold watched and regaled because the Chiefs received the Tremendous Bowl in 1970 and, all the time a passionate fan, handed down his data and love for the group to his son, who was born shortly after that Tremendous Bowl win.
Probability, now a resident of rural Kansas, grew up as passionate of a Chiefs fan as his father Harold, however they by no means bought to share watching a Tremendous Bowl victory collectively earlier than Harold handed. Now, because the Chiefs head to Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl as defending champions, on the verge of cementing themselves as a dynastic group, Todd is considering of his father.
“I consider him and his affect on me being a Chiefs fan and being so affected person with me as he defined the principles of the sport, and why he beloved it as a lot as he did,” Probability mentioned.
Probability took that very same strategy on social media when he posted movies to his TikTok page welcoming Swifties into Chiefs Kingdom after the primary sport Swift attended. He had solely been an off-the-cuff listener of her radio hits. However his interactions with Swifties on social media made him Swift-curious.
“The factor that turned it for me was when all of the Swifites – who have been so unbelievably welcoming and sort and useful – steered me towards ‘Folklore,’” he mentioned of the singer’s 2020 album. After he studied the lyrics and understood Swift’s imaginative storytelling by way of her music, Probability was hooked.
“I get it now,” he recalled considering on the time.
The enjoyable of fandom
The journey between soccer and “Folklore” isn’t nearly discovering music, however embracing pleasure, in accordance Megan Jennings.
Jennings, a Kansas Metropolis resident and lifelong Chiefs supporter, started when the singer attended her first Chiefs sport. “Abruptly, I used to be simply obsessive about Taylor Swift and wanted to know the whole lot about her,” she mentioned.
When she listened to “…Prepared For It,” a tune off of Swift’s 2017 “Reputation” album, for the primary time, Jennings had what she calls a “game-changer” second. She went from a listener to a lover.
From there, the album was performed on repeat and he or she ultimately branched out due to her Spotify shuffle of Swift’s musical oeuvre, which uncovered her to the total breadth of Swift’s work.
Amid the chaos of daily life – she has 4 youngsters – Swift’s music offers an escape.
“It’s actually enjoyable for me to hearken to her music and dance round with my youngsters and take in the second,” she mentioned.
Jennings is even attending a Swift-themed Tremendous Bowl get together on Sunday at her brother-in-law’s dwelling in Kansas Metropolis. She plans to deliver friendship bracelet-making provides. For the youngsters, she claims.
Enjoyable as dance events and beaded jewellery is, although, Jennings and Probability say their appreciation for Swift goes deeper, too.
“I personally really feel linked to the truth that she’s a robust unbiased girl. She stands up for what she believes in,” Jennings mentioned. “I simply assume she’s a tremendous position mannequin.”
Probability discovered himself shocked by how a lot he linked to lyrics written by an artist main a style that sometimes doesn’t find yourself on his playlists.
“She’s in a position to write a tune and in some way make it really feel extremely private to you although it is probably not something that’s even associated to one thing that’s occurring in your life,” he mentioned.
The highway from Chiefs Kingdom to Swiftie-ville, after all, goes each methods.
Danielle Griffith, who runs an lively Swift fan account on TikTok and is independently a fan of soccer, finds herself fielding questions on guidelines of the sport whereas interacting together with her followers.
“I believe lots of Swifties wish to be a part of any type of factor that Taylor immerses herself in,” Griffith informed CNN in an interview. “The fantastic thing about Taylor Swift is that she has such a loyal following and he or she’s so extremely revered and revered that I do assume that Swifties will most likely observe her anyplace.”
There’s fact to her assertion that’s mirrored within the info.
One, for instance, is that the Chiefs’ Fb web page had round 2.1 million followers at first of September 2023 – previous to Swift attending her first sport later that month – based on information from social media monitoring platform CrowdTangle supplied to CNN by a Meta consultant. The web page has gained 400,000 followers since then.
One other reality: Feminine viewership for the NFL’s 2023 common season was up 9% from final yr, based on Nielsen-measured stats supplied to CNN by the NFL. It’s arduous to say how a lot of Swift’s attendance at Chiefs video games since her first September sport has impacted that improve in feminine viewers, which is her key demographic, however within the stands, no less than, her affect on bringing new followers into the sport is actually felt. Simply ask Donna Kelce, mom to Travis and Philadelphia Eagles middle Jason.
“I’ve gotten letters, texts and feedback after I’m within the airport about how fathers are so blissful that their daughters are lastly coming to them to attempt to perceive the sport,” Donna Kelce told CNN’s Lisa Respers France. “And so they couldn’t have thought that will have ever occurred prior to now.”
Kelce mentioned appreciates the familial sentiment.
“I really consider that it’s bringing households nearer. Sports activities tends to do this,” she added.
As for Probability, he appreciates the neighborhood side that each sports activities and music have dropped at his world. His newfound neighborhood among the many Chiefties is the cherry on prime.
“I’m only a regular individual making an attempt to get by in life,” he mentioned. “And discover a couple of issues to be blissful about on the way in which.”