Despite the association with superstar singer Taylor Swift, the Kansas City Chiefs were unable to attract as many female fans as other NFL teams. According to a social media analysis conducted by BetVictor, the Chiefs had 40% of female fans, while the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers had 48% each. The New York Giants had 35% female fans, while the New York Jets had 33%, coming in 18th and tied for 24th place, respectively, in terms of female fan proportion.
BetVictor spokesperson, Sam Boswell, noted that the NFL received a boost in female fans when Taylor Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce became public. Swift attended her first Chiefs game to support Kelce, and continued to show her support throughout the season. The media followed Swift’s travels as she made her way from Tokyo to Las Vegas to attend the 2024 Super Bowl and watch Kelce play.
While the attention was on the Chiefs, it was actually the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers that had the highest percentage of female fans. A Milwaukee native, Claire Haas, attributed her Packers fandom to her parents’ love for the team and the excitement of watching quarterbacks like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. On the other end of the spectrum, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the lowest percentage of female fans at 26%, possibly due to the departure of star quarterback Tom Brady.
Some fans speculated on the reasons behind the varying levels of female fan support for different teams. Jersey City resident Trish Cassidy commented on Green Bay’s popularity, attributing it to the region’s passion for football. While the Jets and Giants, two New York teams, had their own loyal female fanbases, they ranked lower in terms of proportion compared to other teams. It was suggested that continued association with a high-profile celebrity like Taylor Swift could potentially attract more female fans to the Chiefs.
Overall, the data showed that female fan support varied across NFL teams, with some like the Packers and Panthers attracting a higher proportion of female fans compared to others like the Jets and Giants. The association with celebrities like Taylor Swift can influence fan demographics, as seen with the attention drawn to the Chiefs due to her relationship with Travis Kelce. As the NFL continues to evolve and attract new fans, the influence of popular culture and celebrity connections may play a significant role in shaping fan demographics in the future.
