The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are playing a Super Bowl on Sunday that is more spectacular than ever, under the eyes of popstar/supporter Taylor Swift, expected in a boiling Las Vegas.
At least as commented on as the future kick-off at 3:30 p.m. local time (half past midnight Monday Paris time), Taylor Swift's trip to Las Vegas has been the subject of all speculation.
Still in concert in Tokyo on Saturday evening, for a date of her phenomenal “Eras Tour” (revenue estimated at 2 billion dollars), the singer jumped on a jet and landed in Los Angeles on Saturday evening, taking advantage of the favorable time difference, 'after the news site TMZ.
The popstar with 280 million followers on Instagram has taken the already powerful American Football League (NFL) into another dimension since the media coverage of her romance with the charismatic Chiefs player Travis Kelce.
A sign of the impact of their story, former American President Donald Trump, campaigning for the November election, made his comment Sunday morning on his Truth Social network: “No chance that she (Swift) does not support the crook Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt president in the history of our country, and that she is being disloyal to a man who made her so much money.
Trump believes he helped artists during his mandate with the adoption of the “Music Modernization Act”, and bounces back on a conspiracy theory according to which the love story between the singer and the player was arranged and would continue through a Swift's support for Democrat Joe Biden between now and the November presidential election.
“I'm a fan of American football, but I think what she brings is a global vision,” Chiefs fan Lisa Delusio told AFP.
“It brings women and men together, not just around football and music, but also around the camaraderie and fun that football, music and life provide.”
300,000 visitors
The culmination of this emerging “love story”, Swift will meet her boyfriend in a packed Allegiant Stadium (65,000 seats) for the Super Bowl show, hosted for the first time by Las Vegas, the city of all craziness.
The meeting should break all records, particularly for viewers (115.1 million last year), who will be able to attend the famous half-time concert, given this year by the rapper Usher.
The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that around 500 private jets will land in Las Vegas for the game, while more than 300,000 visitors have arrived for the weekend in the gambling city. Roulettes and slot machines are spinning at full speed in the hotel-casinos, where parties are organized around the broadcast of the match.
Also read: Love, politics and American football: Taylor Swift at the heart of a new conspiracy theory
The dealers in several establishments wear NFL clothing, an organization that has long snubbed Vegas for refusing to be associated with sports betting.
The American Gaming Association anticipates that a record 67.8 million Americans, about a quarter of the country, will bet on the match, enough to generate the indecent sum of $23.1 billion.
2020 remake
And on the ground?
Present for the fourth time at the Super Bowl in five years (victories in 2020 and 2023, defeat in 2021), the Chiefs have the opportunity to consecrate their quarterback Patrick Mahomes (28 years old) as a legend of the game. At his position, only Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman have lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy at least three times.
“Tom (Brady) has won the Super Bowl seven times, and he holds all the records,” Mahomes wanted to temper.
The Chiefs, winners last year against the Philadelphia Eagles, if they win, would be the first to keep their trophy since Tom Brady's New England Patriots in 2004. Sunday's poster is a remake of the 2020 Super Bowl, when Mahomes had led the Chiefs' revolt in the last quarter for a 31-20 success.
The 49ers are chasing a sixth trophy, the first since 1995. Little known, their young quarterback Brock Purdy (24 years old) has established himself as an obvious choice during only his second season in the NFL, after being chosen in last position. the 2022 draft.