A 'super' economic boost for the big game, courtesy of Taylor Swift

Feb 5, 2024

2 min

Tim DeSchriver


Could NFL executives have imagined a better scenario for this year’s Super Bowl? Only in their wildest dreams, according to UD sports marketing experts who study the big game every year.


The league has a built-in audience draw and revenue generator named Taylor Swift, who will be in attendance Sunday to root on boyfriend Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs. The world’s biggest pop star can easily fill any blank space – and then some – caused by a lack of bad blood between the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers or advertisements that don’t exude enough style.


And the NFL didn’t have to spend a dime or lift a finger to make it happen. Timothy DeSchriver and John Allgood, who teach and study sports marketing at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, see a number of ways that Swift can move the needle economically for a league that seemingly needs no extra publicity.


  • The female audience is already growing for the NFL, but Allgood said that Swift delivers “a fresher audience” as witnessed by record viewership for the Chiefs-Ravens AFC Championship Game. “There are people tuning in just to see her in a suite for five seconds,” Allgood said.
  • Gamblers wagering on Taylor Swift “prop bets” will keep tuning in even if it’s a blowout, DeSchriver noted.
  • DeSchriver pointed to new advertiser interest from makers of beauty products, potentially to reach the new audience.
  • The NFL will get its cut from products as well, Allgood said, thanks to an NFL licensing deal with a clothing designer after Swift wore one of her puffer coats and the continued rise in sales of Kelce jerseys.


DeSchriver and Allgood, who can also discuss ticket pricing in the playoffs, and are available for interviews. To set one up, visit DeSchriver's profile and click on the "contact" button.

Connect with:
Tim DeSchriver

Tim DeSchriver

Associate Professor of Sport Management; Area Head - Sport Management

Prof. DeSchriver’s research is in sport finance, economics and marketing; specifically professional sport and collegiate athletics.

Sport ManagementSports FinanceProfessional SportCollegiate Athletics
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

Experts on Hurricane Preparedness, Public Health and Community Recovery featured image

2 min

Experts on Hurricane Preparedness, Public Health and Community Recovery

When hurricanes threaten communities already facing social and economic challenges, the need for effective disaster preparedness and response becomes even more critical. University of Delaware disaster research experts can discuss the challenges communities face before, during and after hurricanes, including Hurricane Isaias and its potential impacts across Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle and other parts of the northern Gulf Coast. The following experts from UD's Disaster Research Center are available to discuss the public health consequences of hurricanes, disaster preparedness and community recovery. Sarah DeYoung, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice, can discuss the needs of refugee and immigrant communities before, during and after disasters, including challenges accessing information, assistance and essential resources. She worked for several years with refugee and immigrant communities in southern Alabama through a grant-funded project. Jennifer Horney, professor of epidemiology, can discuss the public health consequences of hurricanes and other disasters, including evacuation decisions, the risks posed by inland flooding and the challenges communities face during recovery. She was part of the public health response to Hurricane Harvey and can discuss how communities still recovering from major storms may face additional challenges when another hurricane threatens the region. Jennifer Trivedi, associate professor of anthropology, studies how disasters affect marginalized communities. She can discuss how disasters compound existing challenges for people struggling to meet basic needs, particularly when flooding disrupts housing, transportation, food access and other essential services. Tricia Wachtendorf, co-director of the Disaster Research Center, can discuss the social impacts of hurricanes and inland flooding, including evacuation, preparedness, community response and recovery. She can also discuss how storms that are not the most powerful can nonetheless cause significant damage and disruption. To reach these experts directly, visit their ExpertFile profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested journalists can also contact MediaRelations@udel.edu.

How should journalists cover politics when democracy is at stake featured image

1 min

How should journalists cover politics when democracy is at stake

Political coverage often centers on the president, but according to the University of Delaware’s Dannagal Young, journalists can sometimes provide more meaningful coverage by focusing more on democracy and less on the commander in chief’s every movement. Young calls this approach “democracy-centered reporting.” Instead of treating every presidential announcement or provocative statement as the central event, democracy-centered reporting asks how political actions affect democratic institutions, constitutional principles and Americans’ ability to exercise their rights as citizens, Young says. Young, professor of communication and director of UD’s Center for Political Communication, says “access journalism” has an important role, but an overreliance on access can also make political leaders the organizing principle of coverage. In moments when executive power is expanding, she argues, journalists should consider whether their coverage is inadvertently amplifying the power they are trying to scrutinize. Young can discuss: • How journalists can cover presidents without making the president the center of every story • The benefits and risks of access journalism • How coverage of political conflict affects public understanding of democracy To arrange an interview with Young, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested reporters can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Public health risks after a major flood featured image

1 min

Public health risks after a major flood

Floodwaters may recede quickly, but the health consequences of a major disaster can last for months or even years, says University of Delaware epidemiologist Jennifer Horney. Horney, an expert in disaster recovery and public health, can discuss the longer-term health challenges communities face after major flooding events, including the Aug. 26 flash floods in Nepal that resulted in 1,450 deaths, with 6,000 people still missing. Horney can talk about: • How damage to health infrastructure can make it more difficult for people to access medical care after a disaster, and what communities can do to prepare for and reduce longer-term health consequences following flooding and other disasters. • How contaminated water and food can increase the risk of infectious disease, and how standing water left behind by floods can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as dengue, malaria, encephalitis and chikungunya. • The impact disasters have on physical and mental health well after the immediate emergency has passed. To arrange an interview, visit Horney's profile and click on the contact button. Interested reporters can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

View all posts