It’s game time in New York City as the NFL’s finest arrive for the wedding celebration of the century on Friday.
NFL superstar and three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce is set to toast his marriage to Taylor Swift in a blockbuster party at Madison Square Garden in front of a star-studded guest list.
The celebration, which has closed off the streets around the iconic arena, will feature the who’s who of the A-list world with 1,000 guests from Hollywood, the music industry, fashion and the sports world set to collide.
Naturally, given Kelce’s sporting pedigree, the NFL’s biggest names will be descending on the famous venue to witness their footballing comrade celebrate saying ‘I do.’
Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford led the sporting stars heading to MSG at around 3:30pm as guests began trickling out of their hotels towards the venue ahead of the ceremony.
The former Super Bowl winner was seen leaving the Ritz Hotel – where a lot of guests for the exclusive affair appeared to be getting ready for the event – with his wife, Kelly.
Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford led the sporting stars heading to TRavis Kelce and taylor Swift’s wedding celebration on Friday afternoon
The signal caller cut a sharp figure in a jade suit jacket, while his wife Kelly wowes in a a $1,140 pale green gown from Rick Owens Lilies featuring ruched detailing and an eye-catching slit
The signal caller cut a sharp figure in a jade suit jacket with black lapels, bowtie and black slacks for the occasion.
Kelly, who shares four daughters with the NFL star, complemented her husband’s dapper suit in a $1,140 pale green gown from Rick Owens Lilies.
The elegant one-shoulder dress featured ruched detailing around the waist and an eye-catching slit up to her hip along the right leg.
NFL sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson, who famously played matchmaker for the couple, were close behind the Staffords, having also received invitations to the pop culture wedding of the century.
Fox star Andrews was part of the happy couple’s contingent and attended alongside her husband, former NHL star and Stanley Cup champion Jarret Stoll.
She wowed in a long chiffon dress in a shimmering black fabric with a sleek halter silhouette, while Stoll wore a navy blue suit.
Her podcast co-host Thompson, also one of Fox’s most prominent NFL reporters, was also there with her boyfriend, marketing executive and entrepreneur Steven Cundari.
She looked stunning in a nude-colored gown featuring intricate silver beading and rhinestones throughout the entire silhouette. And if it hadn’t been for the pair of them, there might not be a wedding this week at all.
NFL sideline reporter Erin Andrews, who famously played matchmaker, was with the Staffords
Charissa Thompson, also one of Fox’s most prominent NFL reporters, stunned in a nude-colored gown featuring intricate silver beading and rhinestones
Andrews wowed in a long chiffon dress in a shimmering black fabric with a halter silhouette
In the ‘love story’ of Travis and Taylor, Andrews played a key role at the beginning when she and podcast co-host Charissa Thompson advocated for Swift to give Kelce a chance.
The groom’s inner circle were also among some of the first to emerge from the glitzy Ritz. Former NFL tight end Ross Travis, one of Kelce’s right-hand men, strolled out onto the sidewalk in a bold burgundy suit, black beret and sunglasses.
A host of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates also began their journeys to MSG with Kareem Hunt and Trent McDuffie spotted.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end coach Luke Steckel, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp and NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield also received coveted invites.
USWNT legend Abby Wambach was captured arriving in a classic tailored black tailcoat suit featuring a formal white vest and tailored peak lapels.
Swift famously invited Wambach and the USWNT on stage during her 1989 Tour following their 2015 World Cup win.
Wambach was joined by her wife Glennon Doyle, who looked elegant in a powder blue Jenny Packham gown with beaded detailing.
San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle and his wife Claire were seen arriving in New York earlier in the week after having also been invited to the more intimate rehearsal dinner on Thursday evening.
Former NFL tight end Ross Travis strolled out onto the sidewalk in a bold burgundy suit
USWNT legend Abby Wambach was captured arriving in a classic tailored black tailcoat suit
Her wife Glennon Doyle looked elegant in a powder blue Jenny Packham gown
Kelce and Kittle are rivals on the football field but away from the action they have formed a close friendship. The pair co-founded Tight End University together along with retired star Greg Olsen with the footballing summit hosting its sixth edition in Nashville last week.
While the Kittles had not yet been spotted on Friday afternoon, their close friends, Kittle’s Niners teammate Kyle Juszczyk and wife Kristin, who designed Swift’s now-iconic Chiefs puffer jacket for the 2024 playoffs, were seen strolling up to the venue.
Despite being a fashion designer with her own sportswear line, Kristin’s look for the big day was a severe disappointment. Her dress, consisting of a pale blue corset with a ballooning skirt of excessive black fabric, created a disjointed look.
Of course, Kelce’s Philadelphia Eagles legend brother Jason would have been one of the first names on the guestlist, along with his wife Kylie.
However, it is unclear whether their four daughters – Wyatt, six, Elliotte, five, Bennett, three, and Finnley, one – will be joining them.
Meanwhile, his closest Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Patrick Mahomes, and his wife Brittany are expected to headline the sporting attendees.
Kelce’s former teammate, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster who won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs, was also spotted arriving at MSG.
The tight end will reportedly pay back the favor to Smith-Schuster next week when he transforms from groom to wedding attendee.
San Francisco 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk and wife Kristin, who designed Swift’s now-iconic Chiefs puffer jacket for the 2024 playoffs, were seen strolling up to the venue
Smith-Schuster is marrying his fiancee Laura Kruk on July 11 in Orange County, California and according to TMZ , Kelce and his wife are going to be there to join the celebrations.
Kelce and Smith-Schuster are no longer teammates, with the wide receiver recently leaving Kelce and the Chiefs to sign for the New York Giants.
However, they appear to have remained close friends with the wideout making the cut for Friday’s star-studded affair.
Despite having never played on the same team as Travis, Beau Allen made the cut. The defensive end played four seasons with Travis’s older brother Jason on the Philadelphia Eagles.
The pair remained good friends, even after Allen left Philadelphia for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the retired tackle has appeared on Jason and Travis’s New Heights podcast.
Allen cut a dapper figure in a beige double-breasted suit jacket featuring a black shawl lapel and contrasting black buttons, crisp white shirt and black bowtie. He looked sharp, wearing his shiny blonde tresses scraped back into a man bun.
However, it does not appear to be entirely peaceful behind the scenes with some of Kelce’s friends left feeling snubbed.
While Kelce’s oldest confidants – the Cleveland boys, the twins who built his brand, the fellow tight ends – glided into Thursday’s intimate rehearsal dinner, a swathe of his wider NFL circle found themselves punted to Friday’s 1,000-strong blowout.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver is pictured arriving with his wife, Anna
Kupp, who won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks in February, looked classy in a black suit
The sensitive, semi-snubbed bros left on the sidelines are believed to be quietly seething at being frozen out of the more star-studded dinner the night before, sources say.
‘There is a general invite to everyone on the team,’ a source told the Daily Mail. ‘But it doesn’t extend to some of the front office people, so there’s some feelings there. And also, not everyone on the team has the same invite.
‘A few who he’s closer to have more info and it sounds like there’s something smaller that they get to go to.’
The contrast in wedding arrangements extends to the guest accommodations.
While some of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates are reportedly staying at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, his closest friends appear to be enjoying the VIP treatment at the considerably swankier hotel they were spotted leaving.
