Arnold Schwarzenegger is praising Taylor Swift for the new audience that she brought to the National Football League.
The Terminator star recently talked with Yahoo Entertainment about football’s growing popularity across the globe, as well as the singer’s impact on the league since her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce went public at the beginning of the season.
“Football itself draws the hugest crowd because it’s the most popular sport. But then to have someone like her be there and watch the game adds another kind of a thing that [attracts] a different audience,” Schwarzenegger said.
“Especially younger girls are now more into football, they know the rules and all of that stuff, so it’s really amazing.”
Following Swift’s first appearance at a Chiefs game in September, the “Cruel Summer” singer has caused quite a stir among the league and fans.
While some have criticized the NFL for broadcasting shots of her at the games, some fathers said it has given them and their daughters something to bond over.
Many have also attributed the NFL’s heightened TV ratings this season to Swift, such as when the singer and some of her famous friends attended the Chiefs-Jets game in October. At the time, NBC noted a significant increase in women’s viewership compared with the season’s previous three Sunday Night Football telecasts.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also recently commended Swift, noting that “it’s great” to see the Grammy-winning singer join the professional football league’s fandom.
“Both Travis and Taylor are wonderful young people,” Goodell said during his annual Super Bowl week press conference. “They seem very happy. She knows great entertainment, and I think that’s why she loves NFL football.”
