Taylor Swift knows how to light up Kansas City Chiefs fans like no other with her mere presence. In Week 17, the Chiefs will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a highly anticipated Christmas Day NFL game at Acrisure Stadium. With Travis Kelce in action, there’s another question on everyone’s mind — is Taylor Swift in the stands to cheer them on?
A Christmas Present From Taylor Swift to Chiefs Fans
Swift returned to Arrowhead Stadium to cheer the Chiefs in their Week 16 game against the Houston Texans. Although the global star shied away from gracing the suites at Arrowhead due to continuing security concerns, her appearance just before Christmas raised the hopes of fans who want to see her cheer for the team on this special day.
Taylor Swift in the suite at the Chiefs vs Texans game today!
— Taylor Swift Web (@tayswiftdotcom) December 21, 2024
Swift, a Pennsylvania native, has made sure to bring cheer to her fans when games take place at Arrowhead. However, as the KC clan heads for their Christmas Day clash on the road, will Swift care to join them?
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Unfortunately, Swift did not attend the Christmas Day game. Fresh off her “Eras Tour,” which concluded earlier this month in Vancouver, the pop icon has attended most of the Chiefs’ home games but has avoided away games, citing logistical and security concerns.
Why Hasn’t Swift Attended Any Road Games This Season?
Swift has a crazy schedule, especially while she was on her hugely popular “Eras Tour.” There are certain road games that she has missed because she had a concert in another city. However, even when her schedule has been open (like Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns), she opted to cheer on Kelce from afar when the Chiefs are playing on the road.
Adam Lefkoe, a broadcaster who is close with Jason Kelce and the Kelce family as a whole, shared a possible explanation. During an appearance on “Up & Adams,” Lefkoe mentioned that Swift and the Kelce family had a rough away-game experience at Highmark Stadium when the Chiefs faced the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of last year’s NFL playoffs.
“I have heard from people very close [to the Kelces] that it was not a great experience in Buffalo. It was not — for all parties involved, and I’m talking about the most famous of all the parties,” Lefkoe said. “I think that it kind of shocked the Kelce family and everyone related to the Kelce family the reception they got.”
Adam Lefkoe says the Kelce-Swift family were SHOCKED by the reception they got from #BillsMafia during last season's Divisional RD game. 😳
"It was not a great experience in Buffalo, for ALL parties involved." 😬 🫣@heykayadams @AdamLefkoe | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/xaie79frCB
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) November 14, 2024
Lefkoe said Swift and the Kelces were expecting “an amazing game with good energy,” but instead, “they experienced Bills Mafia in full form” and dealt with “complete ruthlessness.”
“I think they left and went, ‘I don’t know if I want to experience that again,'” Lefkoe said.
Based on that quote, it sounds like this experience may have soured Swift on road games.
The Chiefs defeated the Bills 27-24 in that game and Travis had a terrific performance, catching five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. You might recall that this was the game when Jason was shirtless and interacting with fans.
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Well, Lefkoe described this as Kelce getting the last laugh after hours of being cursed out and treated poorly by Buffalo fans.
Lefkoe pointed out that the Bills fans were doing “their job” by making the opposing fans uncomfortable but hinted that they may have crossed the line.
“You don’t have to be mean or hurt people,” Lefkoe said. “Don’t do that.”
After Kansas City advanced past Buffalo, Swift attended the AFC Championship Game in Baltimore and watched the Chiefs punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. She was also in attendance for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas when Kansas City defeated the San Francisco 49ers. But ever since, she has only attended the Chiefs’ home games at Arrowhead Stadium.
It’s worth noting that security concerns could also be to blame. Page Six reported that security issues make it difficult for the pop superstar to attend road games.
Swift has a security team that needs to work with the stadium personnel in advance of each game to ensure her safety. While her security team knows the crew at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium very well and has secured that location numerous times, road games present new challenges.
“If she is going to a place that isn’t Arrowhead, there are security concerns,” a source told Page Six. “She has worked with Arrowhead so many times, they feel at ease and comfortable. Going to all kinds of different stadiums, you need to send a team in advance.”
The outlet notes that Swift’s security concerns have heightened since August when she had to cancel three concerts at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna after authorities uncovered a planned terrorist attack.
The Chiefs have one more road games during the regular season: against the Denver Broncos in Week 18 (TBD). Swift recently wrapped up her “Eras Tour,” so perhaps her schedule is a bit more open now.
Swift will likely be present for the Chiefs’ playoff games. She was a fixture during last year’s title run, and now her schedule will allow her to cheer on Kelce and the Chiefs as they try to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
Swift Cheered on the Chiefs Last Christmas
Last Christmas, Taylor brought her holiday spirit to Kansas City, celebrating the season with her family while cheering on her boyfriend Kelce and his team during their home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 14-time Grammy winner dressed in a festive red sweater, plaid skirt, and a cashmere bomber jacket and was joined by her parents, Andrea and Scott, as well as her brother Austin at Arrowhead Stadium.
Their entry delighted the fans as Swift’s brother Austin made a cheerful entry with Kelce’s lady love while ringing a bell in a Santa Claus outfit as they arrived in a golf cart.
Taylor went all out in the VIP suite with her holiday attire, donning a Santa hat with Kelce’s No. 87 stitched on the trim.
She was joined by Kelce’s father, Ed, and Brittany Mahomes, who wore a matching Santa hat with Patrick Mahomes’ number. Despite the Chiefs’ 20-14 loss, Taylor kept the festive vibes alive, even wearing Chiefs-branded attire at previous games.