American football
Show and shine: Taylor Swift as a symbol of the NFL spaceship
The appearance of teammates Patrick Mahomes (l) and Travis Kelce is eagerly awaited. photo
© Ed Zurga/AP/dpa
A year ago there was Tom Brady, this time Patrick Mahomes. But that takes a back seat in Germany because: Maybe Taylor Swift will come. How the NFL cleverly uses the pop giant.
The fact that football superstar Patrick Mahomes is traveling to Frankfurt without his wife was a mystery before the spectacle NFL in Germany a side note. Because the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs is not married to Taylor Swift.
The pop giant has become the overarching topic in the best football league in the world this season. Swift side by side with Chiefs star Travis Kelce, in the stands next to his mother Donna or cheering together with Brittany Mahomes: every detail is attractive, the interest is gigantic.
Before the second NFL game in Germany, even the top duel between Super Bowl winners Kansas City and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday (3:30 p.m./RTL and DAZN) becomes a minor matter. Kelce and superstar Swift have not officially commented on their obvious liaison – instead they let the pictures do the talking: holding hands and kissing.
Kelce: “I will keep my private life private”
Two days before the sporting highlight, there was news in front of 48,000 fans that Kelce’s mother was on her way to Germany. And associated with it, whether, where and when Taylor Swift is coming. Even Travis Kelce himself didn’t want to solve the mystery. He knows that the bookmakers’ odds for his personal achievements will change if he reveals this information. “I don’t want to mess with them,” Kelce said. “I will keep my private life private.”
For the NFL, all the headlines are a godsend. The league, which is already focused on show and glitz, is flying into Germany like a spaceship these days and is setting up a parallel sporting world that millions of people in this country are following with huge interest. Love stories, rumors and private information about the main protagonists surrounding Mahomes and Kelce are worth at least as much as the sport itself.
Donovan: Benefited from the Kelce Swift issue
Chiefs President Mark Donovan readily admits how the Kelce Swift issue is having a positive impact on his franchise. “As an organization, we know that we have benefited from the additional interest and attention from the media, social media and music fans,” Donovan told dpa. The league bosses will be very pleased that it is not yet known whether Swift will jet to Frankfurt before her next concert on November 9th in Buenos Aires. Especially if the 33-year-old doesn’t come at all in the end. Swift is currently, in a more acute form, what Mahomes was recently: a symbol of NFL gigantism.
But even without a Swift visit, Frankfurt can expect a thrilling football weekend. The harbingers can be seen everywhere in the city. The NFL negotiated with UEFA and the German Football League (DFL) to allow Eintracht Frankfurt to only play away games for a certain period of time. There were already millions of ticket requests for the two NFL games (the New England Patriots play against the Indianapolis Colts on the following Sunday) in the summer. “We’re here to enjoy the NFL. We want to enjoy this experience. We want to enjoy every moment. This will be one I remember forever,” Mahomes said.
The boom doesn’t stop. “The hosting of several regular-season games in Germany has created a whole new level of hype among existing fans and has also inspired many new fans of American football,” said NFL Germany boss Alexander Steinforth. A year ago, the now retired football legend Tom Brady made a guest appearance in Munich. When the almost 70,000 fans sang “Sweet Caroline” loudly in the Allianz Arena, even the six-time NFL champion seemed moved. “That was really epic,” Brady said.
Mahomes reports fit
The stadium in Frankfurt is significantly smaller, but the show and supporting program are likely to be of a similar size. The club from Kansas City has rented a publicly accessible boat and is traveling on the Main. There are numerous program items in the city center throughout the weekend as well as various public viewing opportunities on Sunday. Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) spoke of “a blatant thing” before the duel between Chiefs and Dolphins, which was untypical for a mayor.
In terms of sport, the focus should be on star player Mahomes. After the 28-year-old was plagued by flu-like symptoms in the 9:24 loss against the Denver Broncos the previous week, he has now reported back. “There’s nothing standing in the way, I’m fit,” Mahomes said in a media round. Even without his wife Brittany and his two little kids, the Chiefs’ most valuable player is looking forward to the experience in Germany. “It’s exciting to see the culture there. They enjoy it. Football is becoming a global sport. I’ve seen some videos from Germany. I know how much they love it,” said Mahomes.