Whenever Taylor Swift appears in Kansas City with her boyfriend Travis Kelce, many stores experience a surge in customers, leading to increased profits.
According to Billboard on December 17th, since their relationship became public, the celebrity couple has been contributing to the economic growth of Kansas, where Travis Kelce lives and plays football. Many businesses selling related merchandise or places they have visited have seen an increase in sales, website traffic, and social media engagement. Tim Cowden, the president of the city's economic development council, stated, "We cannot estimate the exact figure. Taylor has brought great opportunities to this place."
Bradley, the owner of the Made In KC souvenir shop, said the most popular product during the holiday season is "anything related to Taylor and Travis." Katie Essing, a professor at the University of Missouri, evaluated the positive impact of the couple's relationship, helping many brands promote themselves without risk.
Every time the singer attends her boyfriend's games, it becomes an opportunity for brands to grow. After Taylor Swift wore a Kansas City Chiefs sweatshirt – the team Travis Kelce plays for – many people rushed to buy the product. The Westside Storey received over 100 online orders in just a few days. "It's crazy, generating unprecedented orders," the store owner said. During Travis' game in September, Taylor drew attention by eating fried chicken with ranch sauce. Subsequently, KFC dubbed her the "Ranch Sauce Queen," and the food company Heinz even produced a new flavor of this sauce.
Similarly, at Piropos – the restaurant where Taylor and Travis once dined – immediately received attention on social media after the couple's appearance. People proactively contacted and made reservations, even though the restaurant had not previously advertised in the area. At souvenir shop chains, the influx of people into the city to buy clothing, jewelry, candles, and hats has increased rapidly.
Additionally, the resounding success of Eras Tour in Kansas also impacts the economy. According to the city's development council, Taylor's concerts generate about $185 to $200 million, with an average fan spending $1,400 on meals, advertising, and other merchandise. The concerts have generated revenues of $88.8 million. In July, two stores produced 20,000 cookies over the weekend to meet the demand of over 70,000 fans attending the show at Arrowhead Stadium. The store owner had to hire additional staff to support cookie production and packaging.
Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas said, "Every city wants Taylor Swift to appear. This is great for our economy and culture. It's wonderful to see the happy couple enjoying life."
Travis Kelce was the one who actively connected with Taylor Swift in late July. Despite their busy schedules, Taylor and Kelce still try to do many things together, spending romantic time together. They comfortably show their affection in public and praise each other. They also support each other's careers, with Taylor spending time meeting and interacting with her boyfriend's family, including his father, to cheer on Travis' games.
Taylor Swift, 34, is an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame with country music in 2006. With 10 albums, she has won 12 Grammy Awards and 29 Billboard Awards. She currently has a net worth of around $1.1 billion following the resounding success of the Eras Tour. Before dating Travis Kelce, she had several relationships, the most recent being with actor Joe Alwyn for six years.
Travis Kelce, the same age as Taylor, is a professional football player. He has won the Super Bowl twice, honored as "First-Team All-Pro" in 2016, 2018, and 2020. He has participated in the NFL Pro Bowl eight times. Kelce and model Kayla Nicole dated for five years before breaking up in May 2022.