Super Bowl (Travis and Taylor's version): How the super-couple is navigating the week ahead of the big game
It’s Super Bowl weekend, and like it or not, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce — the world’s most famous couple — are a big part of it. And Yahoo has all the latest “Traylor” news, including his preparation for the big game and her “Eras Tour” stop in Tokyo on the eve of the Super Bowl — and whether she’ll make it back to Las Vegas in time for kickoff.
Where are they right now?
• Kelce is in Las Vegas practicing with the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their Super Bowl matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.
• Swift is in Tokyo, where she is scheduled to play four sold-out concerts, part of her “Eras Tour,” from Feb. 7 through 10.
Get ready for Swift-themed Super Bowl parties
Super Bowl parties are getting a makeover this year thanks to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Yahoo Entertainment’s David Artavia reports:
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently credited “the Taylor Swift effect” for creating “another group of young fans, particularly young women, that are interested” in the sport.
“She’s a football fan, and I think that’s great for us,” he said of Swift on Monday.
Swift fans are dreaming up unique ways of watching the big game with the “Anti-Hero” singer in mind.
“I’ve never cared about football, but I’m looking forward to this year’s game and hosting a big party for it!” Ariel Hendrix, who lives in Texas, told Yahoo Entertainment.
Hendrix is showing her love for Swift by offering trays of treats and other “Traylor-themed” accessories to her guests, presented on a giant red table that reads “Go Taylor’s Boyfriend!”
Janica Lee, an avid sports fan and self-proclaimed “new Swiftie” from Missouri, told Yahoo Entertainment she made Swift-and-Kelce-themed bingo cards by hand to give to guests for a Super Bowl party she’s throwing at home. She also made a custom “Eras Tour” poster to pose in front of for those eager to “take lots of selfies” during the game.
Swift takes Toyko
Fresh off her history-making appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, Swift took to the stage at the Tokyo Dome in Japan Wednesday in the first of four sold-out "Eras Tour" concerts this week.
People reported that Swift gave the crowd some details about her upcoming new album, The Tortured Poets Department, which she announced at the Grammys.
“I’ve been working on Tortured Poets since right after I turned in Midnights,” Swift said. “I’ve been working on it for about two years, I kept working on it throughout the U.S. tour and when it was perfect — in my opinion, when it’s good enough for you — I finished it and I am so, so excited that soon you’ll get to hear it.”
Trav reacts to the Grammys
Speaking to reporters at the Super Bowl's media day Monday, Kelce said he was in awe of Swift's Album of the Year win.
"It was pretty amazing, she’s unbelievable," Kelce said. "She's rewriting the history books herself. I told her I'll have to hold up my end of the bargain and come home with some hardware, too."
Kelce also confirmed that he's heard parts of Swift's new album, The Tortured Poets Department, but refused to divulge any details.
"I have heard some of it yes, and it is unbelievable," he said. "I can't wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops. I can't give you anything. I leave that up to her."
Q&A
REPORTER: What's it like playing in front of Taylor knowing that she’s in the stadium?
KELCE: It’s similar to playing in front of my family. They’re the reason why I do play. They're the reason why I go out there and play with such excitement. My family has given me the tools and the love for sports and this game. So to be able to go out there and represent them in a way and give them something to cheer for, it’s the best feeling.
Weather forecast
While the concerts and Super Bowl will be played inside domes, the weather outside could play a role in Swift’s possible trip from Tokyo to Las Vegas to see Kelce play.
Tokyo
• High: 54°F; Low: 39°F
Mostly sunny.
Las Vegas
• High: 52°F; Low: 41°F
Cool with a blend of sun and clouds.
Source: AccuWeather
Swift’s potential trip back to Vegas
🇯🇵 Statement from the Embassy of Japan on Taylor Swift’s Reported Travel from Japan to the United States ✈️🏈 Are you ready for it? pic.twitter.com/wFKadehTJk
— Japan Embassy DC🌸 (@JapanEmbDC) February 2, 2024
The 5,500-mile flight from Tokyo to Las Vegas takes approximately 12 hours and crosses 17 time zones, but Swift should nonetheless have plenty of time to get to Sin City for Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“If she departs Tokyo in the evening after her concert, she should comfortably arrive in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl begins,” the Japanese Embassy said in a statement posted to X on Feb. 2. “We know that many people in Japan are excited to experience Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, so we wanted to confirm that anyone concerned can be Fearless in knowing that this talented performer can wow Japanese audiences and still make it to Las Vegas to support the Chiefs.”
Swift threatens legal action over flight tracker
Meanwhile, Swift has threatened legal action against Jack Sweeney, the University of Central Florida student college student who tracks the private jets of famous people — including hers.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Swift’s lawyer sent Sweeney a cease-and-desist letter back in December demanding he stop his “stalking and harassing behavior," and that his jet tracking had caused the pop star to live in a "constant state of fear for her personal safety.”
"While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life-or-death matter for our Client,” the letter said, adding: “Ms. Swift has dealt with stalkers and other individuals who wish her harm."
Sweeney — who last year had a similar dispute with Elon Musk — told Business Insider that he has no intention of harming those whose flights he tracks, saying that he only does so for "transparency and public information."
By the numbers
102,000,000
— The estimated number of albums by Taylor Swift sold in 2023
11,328
— The number of receiving yards by Travis Kelce in his NFL career
5,550
— The number of miles between Tokyo and Las Vegas
$40 million
— Kelce’s estimated net worth
$1.1 billion
— Swift’s estimated net worth
Betting on the big game
In addition to the usual avalanche of Super Bowl betting odds, sportsbooks both in and outside the U.S. are embracing the Traylor mania, offering prop bets related to the pop star and her All-Pro boyfriend.
While U.S. sportsbooks are not allowed to offer props specifically related to Swift or her actions during the game, sportsbooks in other parts of the world are able to do so. Several have prop bets listed for how many times Swift will be shown on the CBS broadcast of the Super Bowl. Others have put odds on a Kelce-Swift on-field marriage proposal.
Kelce was asked about the wagering after practice on Wednesday.
“These bets are crazy,” he said.
The Swift-Kelce conspiracy theories
The Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce romance has triggered plenty of wild conspiracy theories that seem to have only gotten wilder after the Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl. Some notable far right media and political figures, including Fox News host Jesse Watters and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, have gone as far to suggest that Swift is part of a psychological operation backed by the U.S. government, NFL and Democratic Party to help deliver the 2024 presidential election to Joe Biden.
The Pentagon even issued a tongue-in-cheek statement denying the outlandish claims.
“As for this conspiracy theory, we are going to shake it off,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told Politico. “But that does highlight that we still need Congress to approve our supplemental budget request as Swift-ly as possible so we can be out of the woods with potential fiscal concerns.”
More Swiftie Bowl coverage
Yahoo Sports:NFL commissioner Roger Goodell calls Taylor Swift conspiracy theory ‘nonsense’
Yahoo Entertainment:Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce America's royal couple? Why experts say 'Traylor' mania 'isn't dying down anytime soon.'
Yahoo Sports:Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift prompt biggest, wildest media day ever at Super Bowl
Yahoo Life: Taylor Swift's favorite team is headed to the Super Bowl. What it means for this mom and daughter.
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