Travis Kelce is back in Chiefs territory, and one fan couldn’t be happier!
After a whirlwind summer spent with girlfriend Taylor Swift, culminating in his attendance at the 13th and 14th Eras Tour concerts in Germany last week, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has returned to Missouri for training camp.
Among the many excited fans was Pam, a 57-year-old Chiefs devotee from Lost Springs, Kansas, who shared her experiences with PEOPLE.
Pam, a longtime training camp attendee, arrived at camp around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 21, having left her home at midnight to secure a prime spot near the goal post for player autographs. Despite Kelce not signing autographs that day, Pam fondly recalled her first encounter with him.
“The first time we got his autograph, I had my mom with me, who is actually 87 this year,” Pam shared. “He stood right in front of us and my mom touched him on the arm. I was like, ‘Mom, you can’t do that!’ But he didn’t mind. He just kept thanking us for coming. He’s just the sweetest guy, so very personable.”
RELATED: Travis Kelce Reportedly goes on Wild Shopping Spree For Taylor Swift
Though Kelce didn’t interact with fans on Sunday, his presence alone drew a large crowd, especially with the added interest from Taylor Swift’s fans. “I knew we’d have more people here with the Swifties coming in. I love Taylor, but I love Travis,” Pam said. “I’ve loved him for a long time.”
Pam plans to return to camp seven more times during July and August, each time arriving just as early, in hopes of greeting Kelce and getting his autograph again. “I’m glad he came back. I was afraid he might retire and just go with Taylor to the concerts, but hopefully, he stays with us and we keep winning championships.”
Pam also expressed confidence in Kelce’s professionalism and dedication to the game despite his high-profile relationship. “He is a professional. He has a love for the game. He’s the go-to man.”
She also noted the positive impact of the romance between Kelce and Swift on the Chiefs’ franchise. “The Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl wins and the attention that Swift and Kelce’s romance bring to the franchise is amazing. It’s something that we can’t take for granted. I know there are a lot of people who jumped on the bandwagon when we were doing well, but I lived through two wins and 14 losses, so this is really special.”
Pam has even taken it upon herself to help new fans, whom she describes as “bandwagoners,” appreciate the team as she does. “I’ve had season tickets for a long time, and I know one game I had a couple of Swifties behind me that didn’t quite understand football, but I helped them out.”
With a sense of pride, she concluded, “We’re America’s team now. Everyone’s gonna be out for us.”
