The Kansas City Chiefs’ foray into the world of Hallmark-style romance films has proven to be a massive success, as the movie inspired by Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s highly publicized romance drew impressive numbers during its television debut. The Hallmark film, titled ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,’ captivated audiences with its charming storyline, drawing significant viewership upon its release.
Set against the backdrop of the ongoing hype surrounding Kelce and Swift’s relationship, ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ featured well-known Hallmark actors Hunter King and Tyler Hynes. The film premiered on Saturday night, and its heartwarming blend of romance and football seemed to strike a chord with viewers, leading to remarkable ratings.
According to Programming Insider, ‘Holiday Touchdown’ opened to a staggering 2.88 million viewers during its first airing. This made it one of the most-watched programs on cable TV that evening, second only to the highly anticipated Texas-Texas A&M college football game on ABC, which drew 9.46 million viewers.
Despite fierce competition from college football, the Chiefs’ romantic production managed to stand out.
In fact, ‘Holiday Touchdown’ ranked ahead of five other college football games in the primetime window. The romantic fiction garnered more viewers than the Washington-Oregon matchup on NBC (2.57 million viewers), Oklahoma-LSU on ESPN (2.09 million viewers), Kansas State-Iowa State on Fox (2.01 million viewers), Florida-Florida State on ESPN2 (1.38 million viewers), and Purdue-Indiana on FS1 (717,000 viewers).
For a Hallmark-style film to outperform several major sporting events, it demonstrated just how much interest the Chiefs’ production generated.
Though the film drew inspiration from Kelce and Swift’s high-profile romance, it is not a direct portrayal of their love story. Instead, ‘Holiday Touchdown’ tells the fictional tale of Alana, a passionate Chiefs superfan, and Derrick, the team’s fictional Director of Fan Engagement. The story revolves around their journey as they navigate love and fandom, blending the excitement of professional football with the cozy charm of a holiday romance.
‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ is the second film project produced by the Kansas City Chiefs, following the short film ‘Falling for Football,’ which premiered in January during the NFL postseason. Tyler Hynes, who starred in ‘Holiday Touchdown,’ also appeared in the previous production alongside Janel Parrish, known for her role in ‘Pretty Little Liars.’
The success of both projects indicates that the Chiefs have tapped into something special, resonating with both football fans and lovers of romantic films.
The latest production also featured a star-studded cast, including appearances from familiar faces connected to the Kansas City Chiefs community.
Among the notable cameos were Donna Kelce, mother of Travis and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, and Kansas City-based hip-hop artist Tech N9ne. Chiefs players Trey Smith and Tommy Townsend, along with former Kansas City star Dante Hall, also made appearances, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the football-themed love story.
The inclusion of these Kansas City icons, paired with the film’s endearing storyline, helped capture the spirit of the Chiefs franchise while offering a playful nod to Travis Kelce’s widely publicized romance with Taylor Swift.
As a result, ‘Holiday Touchdown’ managed to appeal to a broad audience, attracting not only Chiefs fans but also viewers drawn in by the allure of romance and the festive atmosphere of the holiday season.
As the Chiefs continue their impressive run in the NFL, their venture into holiday romance films has provided an additional layer of entertainment for fans.
By blending football with love, the team has found a unique way to engage their audience, proving that their impact goes beyond just the gridiron.
‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ has set a high bar for future team-inspired productions, and with the success of this latest release, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more projects like it in the future.
