Taylor Swift fuels KC economy again
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Taylor wearing local merch. Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce went public with their relationship, Kansas City didn't just land in headlines — our small businesses felt the impact in real dollars.
Why it matters: With her latest album, "The Life of a Showgirl," dropping Friday, KC's Swift economy is coming back stronger than a '90s trend.
By the numbers: Swift's two July 2023 shows at Arrowhead pulled in 134,000 fans and $47.8 million in direct spending, according to EDC KC, making it one of the city's biggest tourism events ever.
- During her Eras Tour stop, local retailers said that Swifties spent more that weekend than football fans did in their stores during the NFL Draft.
- Two months later, when Swift showed up at Arrowhead for Travis Kelce, she wore a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt sourced from Westside Storey. The shop says web traffic jumped from a handful of browsers to hundreds overnight.
- Kelce jersey sales also leapt nearly 400% after that night.
- Made in KC co-owner Keith Bradley tells Axios Swift- and Kelce-themed products have been "top sellers and one of the more sought-after product categories" for two years, from "I'm just here for Taylor" hats to mugs with illustrations of the couple.
The latest: Bradley added that Swift's recent engagement announcement gave local makers "another boost … helping them increase their revenue and expand their customer base."
- KC-based B&B Theatres says presales for Swift's upcoming three-day concert film event are among the highest in its history, with tickets being "gobbled up as quickly as we could get them posted," Paul Farnsworth, the company's executive director of communications, tells Axios.
- "It creates an exciting spike," he said.
💭Abbey's thought bubble: I'm waiting to see what our small businesses cook up for this new album. Odds are it will put Taylor's own merch to shame.
The bottom line: Kansas City businesses are cashing in on Swift's spotlight. Her new album and upcoming wedding to Kelce could keep the momentum going.
What's the strangest, wildest or cutest Swift-Kelce item you've spotted in a KC shop? Email [email protected] and let us know.