Rumor: NFL to start talks with Taylor Swift for most lucrative deal ever to play Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans with $1b windfall

The NFL has seen significant gains from the romantic partnership between Kansas City Chiefs standout tight end Travis Kelce and the 14-time Grammy Award-winning artist Taylor Swift. Since the couple went public with their relationship last September, a fresh influx of fans has shown a sudden interest in the game. Naturally, heightened interest translates to increased revenue.

Fortunately for the NFL, the relationship between Kelce and Swift seems to be thriving. Notably, Swift has attended 13 Chiefs games this season (with indications of more, as one coach mentioned her presence at earlier games), while Kelce has been jet-setting across the globe to support her during her Eras Tour. Just today, the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end touched down in Singapore, where Swift is concluding the Asian leg of her worldwide concert series.

The NFL Made Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Thanks to Taylor Swift in 2023

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Taylor Swift celebrates after Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (not pictured) scores a touchdown in the 2024 AFC divisional round game between against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
When Kelce and Swift announced their relationship in September, a brand-new segment of fans began to follow the NFL. Swift’s dedicated fanbase, famously dubbed “Swifties,” started supporting the Chiefs and tuning into other games. This phenomenon, coined as the “Taylor Swift Effect,” resulted in teenage girls and their fathers developing an interest in something previously unfamiliar to them.

The surge in viewership also significantly boosted the NFL’s revenue. Throughout the season, it was estimated that Swift’s attendance at games, along with the attention it generated, contributed to over $300 million in revenue.

The NFL Wanted Taylor Swift to Perform at Halftime of Super Bowl LVIII

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates with girlfriend Taylor Swift after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports 

As viewers of Super Bowl LVIII witnessed, Usher headlined the much-anticipated halftime show. Surprisingly, he wasn’t the NFL’s initial preference.

Reports suggest that the NFL initially approached Swift to perform at the halftime show for Super Bowl LVIII. However, her busy touring schedule and preference to watch Kelce as a fan or loved one prevented her from accepting the offer at that time. Nevertheless, it seems she hasn’t completely dismissed the idea, and there’s a strong indication that the league is eager to arrange it in the near future.

The NFL Believes Taylor Swift Could Bring In $1 Billion in Revenue If She Were the Super Bowl Performer Next Year

Taylor Swift performers during the first night of the Cincinnati stop of the Eras Tour at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, June 30, 2023.

According to a report by The U.S. Sun, NFL business insiders said that influential people within the league are “desperate” to book Swift for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. By their estimates, landing the 14-time Grammy Award winner could net the league over $1 billion:

“The ads could reach a cost of $8.5 million each, an increase of $1 million, or more. This year, it has been estimated that her presence helped generate a lot of money, estimated between $700-750 million. If she is the main artist of next year’s halftime show, it’s expected to generate more than $1.3-1.5 billion.”

The problem, though, is that Super Bowl performers do not really get paid for doing their show. In fact, almost all of them end up losing money by committing to do it. The NFL only pays performers based on the standard union contract, which is $1,000 a day. Performers are sometimes even asked to pay for the privilege to perform, on top of having to pay their crew and everyone else that goes into making their shows a success.

Swift, of course, is a billionaire herself and does not “need” the NFL’s money. However, it stands to reason that she (and any other performer for that matter) may desire a substantial amount more than $1,000 if her performance could bring in $1 billion for the league.