Friendship bracelets may not be the only thing being traded at Taylor Swift concerts in the future!
Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet at Tuesday night’s “Holy Grail” auction, Fanatics founder and CEO Michael Rubin revealed to PEOPLE the exclusive collaboration he’s aiming for with the pop superstar.
Fanatics is the newest official trading card provider in the sports universe — and while the decks primarily feature athletes in all the major leagues, they also have pop culture decks that include cards featuring the biggest names in music and film.
“We should have Taylor Swift cards,” Rubin told PEOPLE exclusively at the inaugural event in partnership with Sotheby’s in New York City’s Harlem Parish on Sept. 25. “We actually asked her a year ago,” he reveals.
Taylor Swift first cheered on Travis Kelce at a Chiefs game a year ago — take a look back at their relationship
Michael Rubin saw trading cards with Patriots owner Robert Kraft at Fanatics and Sotheby’s “Holy Grails” auction in New York on September 24, 2024.
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The timing of the question was fitting, given Swift’s newfound presence in the football space since her whirlwind romance with Travis Kelce began at the start of the 2023 NFL season and Fanatics’ current surge in Chiefs jersey sales as a result.
“Travis Kelce was one of the top 5 best-selling NFL players and saw sales jump nearly 400% across the Fanatics network of sites, including NFLShop.com,” a Fanatics spokesperson told PEOPLE on Sept. 25, the day after Swift was first seen cheer on Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium.
Although Rubin admitted that they “didn’t push too hard” when the request for cooperation was made at the time, he still says that they would “love” to make it happen in the future. “I think a Taylor and Trav business card would be amazing,” he said.
Travis Kelce’s jersey sales are up ‘400%’ after Taylor Swift attended his Chiefs game
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift embrace after the Kansas City Chiefs win the 2024 Super Bowl.
Ezra Shaw/Getty
The inspiration behind putting together the “Holy Grail” auction — in which a select selection of the rarest cards in sports history is auctioned off in front of prominent celebrities, athletes and business titans — was a way to “introduce trading cards and collectibles to a new audience,” Rubin said. told PEOPLE.
Among those new fans? Rubin’s 18-year-old daughter, Kylie Rubin, who she says “wasn’t interested” in trading cards until one of her favorite rappers was involved. “When we introduced Travis Scott at Fanatics Fest, she said, ‘Dad, I want those tickets! They’re crazy,'” he recalled.
Scott released limited edition Cactus Jack and Topps cards that were exclusively available at Fanatics Fest, including one of the rapper himself. Scott even joined Rubin on a panel to discuss the collaboration at the Aug. 17 event — and also signed and handed out cards to fans.
Taylor Swift’s mom Andrea gave Donna Kelce a big hug at the Kansas City Chiefs game: Watch the video!
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Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023.
Jason Hanna/Getty
Ironically, Rubin expressed to PEOPLE his interest in working with Swift on this sports venture exactly one year after she cheered on Kelce and the Chiefs on September 24, 2023. At the time, the pair’s romance was not confirmed.
After the game — in which the Chiefs beat the Bears 41-10 — Swift and Kelce were seen walking out together before leaving the stadium in his 1970 Chevelle 408 Stroker convertible. The singer’s continued support for the athlete continued speculation of a romance, finally confirming their status on October 14 when they were seen holding hands as they left a dinner in New York.
During the NFL season, Swift continued to attend Chiefs games (13 in total) culminating in a Super Bowl LVIII victory. With the 2024 NFL season underway, the superstar has already returned to the suite to support Kelce and the team in two of their three games so far.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education