Photographers share what it’s like when Taylor Swift arrives at stadium for Chiefs games

Once upon a time, Kansas City Star photographers assigned to work a Chiefs game would focus entirely on what happened on the field. But as the Chiefs became the NFL’s most popular team and players began showing their fashionable sides before a game, someone would be inside an Arrowhead Stadium tunnel as they arrived.

Everything changed on Sept. 24, 2023. That’s when global superstar Taylor Swift first came to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Chiefs play a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Swift is one of the most famous people in the world, so her arrival at Chiefs games is big news. And The Star makes sure to have someone on hand when she gets to Arrowhead.

Swift doesn’t get to Arrowhead at a certain time, so photographers can end up waiting up to two hours. Although there isn’t advance notice of her arrival, the photographers get the heads-up when she’s there — from Swifties.

“There are also fans watching at the beginning of the tunnel, there’s a deck overhead and people watch the area she comes in,” The Star’s Emily Curiel said. “Usually, when she comes people scream — depending on the time. if she comes early you hear the fans yell. If it’s too late, you don’t hear anything.” Getting photos of Swift has become more challenging. Just a couple of people used to be in the tunnel. That number is as many as 15 these days.

“While the players walk down a brightly lit ‘red carpet’ section, Taylor typically arrives via a darker, poorly lit path, surrounded by security, making it harder to shoot isolated photos of Swift,” said The Star’s Tammy Ljungblad. “Photographers jockey for position, trying to capture a clear shot of Taylor, while security guards repeatedly remind us, ‘Step back, the players need to get through.’”

Curiel added: “They have a designated area for photographers now. No one yells out to her name when she walks in. It’s usually really quiet and respectful.”

The Star usually has two photographers ready to take photos of Swift. One is positioned at the top of the tunnel and the other is with the gaggle further down the tunnel.

Intriguing but tricky
The Star’s photographers acknowledged that getting pictures of Swift can be tricky, but also said it’s an intriguing part of the job. “She is very photogenic she knows where the cameras are,” Curiel said.

“She knows her angles for sure. She says hi to everyone as she walks into the tunnel. It’s all about one or two minutes long. She’s driven down on a golf cart. usually with her family or friends. All you get is basically is a few seconds before she’s gone.” One of the first postgame photos of Kelce and Swift walking out together was taken by Ljungblad.

“A couple of hours after the Buffalo Bills defeated the Chiefs 20-17 on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 — one of the first games Taylor Swift attended — I got a text from another photographer near the elevator, letting me know the couple was leaving the stadium,” Ljungblad said. “I quickly positioned myself alone on a stairway landing, and moments later, I captured the first Kansas City Star photo of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce leaving arm in arm.

“By the time I got home, my photo was all over the internet and television stations, published mostly without my photo byline or a Kansas City Star credit.”