NHL Fans Blast Travis Kelce After Cameras Focus on Him and Taylor Swift Over 2025 Stanley Cup Final

Sunrise, FL – June 16, 2025 – NHL fans unleashed a wave of criticism at Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce after TNT’s cameras repeatedly spotlighted him and girlfriend Taylor Swift during Game 4 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, overshadowing the intense Panthers-Oilers clash, sources told ESPN.

Kelce, 35, and Swift, 35, arrived at Amerant Bank Arena via helicopter, stealing the broadcast’s focus. Fans erupted on X, with @RamiNajjar20 tweeting, “Stop showing Kelce! Focus on hockey!” The Chiefs tight end and pop icon, cheering for the Panthers, appeared multiple times, including after Matthew Tkachuk’s goal, infuriating NHL purists who blasted TNT’s celebrity-driven coverage.

A trending post captured the scene: “#NHL icon Wayne Gretzky sits beside #Chiefs star Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/jgIU6ewmPB” — MLFootball (@_MLFootball), June 13, 2025. Yet, fans like @RandoAlpaca79 raged, “Cameras on Swift every break? Ridiculous!” They argued the focus on Kelce and Swift diminished Edmonton’s dramatic 5-4 overtime victory.

Seated next to Gretzky, the couple’s presence boosted ratings, per NHL.com, but drew ire from fans like @skxo__, who lamented, “This isn’t an NFL game. Show the Final!” Swift’s appearances at Chiefs games, including Super Bowl LIX, have fueled similar frenzy, with @TheGoldfatherOG tweeting, “Keep Kelce off our screens!”

TNT’s pre-commercial shots of Kelce showing Swift his phone went viral, per Sportsnet, but fans felt the broadcast sidelined stars like Connor McDavid for celebrity glitz. “Hockey deserves better,” @HockeyInsider posted on X. The backlash reignited debates over sports media’s obsession with fame.

As the Stanley Cup Final continues, Kelce and Swift’s spotlight has sparked a broader conversation about broadcast priorities. Will hockey reclaim the focus? Stay tuned to ESPN for updates on the Stanley Cup saga.