Steelers fans anticipate Christmas game against Chiefs, speculate on Taylor Swift

Vern Hess welcomed news that the Steelers will play on Christmas Day this year.

After the NFL schedule was released the Steelers fanbase had mixed reactions — and many weren’t positive. The team does not play a divisional game until Nov. 17 and opens the season with three out of the first four games on the road.

“It’s almost like Cleveland Browns coaches made this schedule for the Steelers,” said Hess, 46, of McKeesport.

A Christmas Day home matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs had schedule-watchers abuzz. The game falls on a Wednesday.

That didn’t bother Hess. He’ll definitely watch the game on TV and it won’t alter his holiday plans.

“I’m a Yinzer through and through,” he said. “Once Steelers are done for the year, football’s done.”

Christmas viewing

Zach Juliano, a Steelers fan, said he’ll watch on Christmas as well. He has a 1-year-old son at home, which makes it tough to attend games.

“For Pittsburghers in my family, we watch every game together anyway, so it’s not going to be any different,” said Juliano, 31, of Delmont.

The Christmas game will be streamed live on Netflix. Anyone living in the Pittsburgh television market will be able to watch it on a local network, though.

Hess said a game on Christmas might allow family members to incorporate the game into a holiday celebration.

“Being that it’s on Christmas Day, I think it’s going to be a pretty high-volume game,” Hess said. “You don’t get anything like that in Pittsburgh on Christmas — usually … the whole town’s shut down.”

Swiftburgh?

The matchup against the Chiefs will likely draw another crowd out on the holiday, he said: the Swifties.

Hess said he believes Taylor Swift will show up to Acrisure Stadium to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, play. She attended a bunch of his games last season.

“I think the Swifties will be in Pittsburgh in full force, unfortunately,” he said.

Juliano said he doesn’t think Pittsburgh fans really care much about the Swift-Kelce relationship.

“They’re there to see the Black and Gold, not Taylor Swift,” he said.

Lucy Vallana, a Steelers fan and Swiftie, is excited for the Christmas Day matchup.

“I’ve been a Steelers fan since before birth,” she said. “I would’ve gone regardless of Taylor Swift — that’s just an extra bonus for me.”

Vallana, 37, of Ross, said she will attend the game in person. She’s held season tickets for a few years, passed down through her family for decades, initially gifted to her as a wedding present.

She said the game falling on Christmas might deter some from attending. Her cousins have the seats next to her, and they usually host Christmas.

Swift’s attendance at the game would assume she and Kelce are still dating in December and she has no other prior engagements.

Since her Eras Tour will be over by Christmas, Vallana said she believes there’s no reason she shouldn’t show up.

“I’m hoping she does because who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas in Pittsburgh?” Vallana said. “I need to see Taylor Swift.”

She’s been debating whether to make Steelers- and Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelets to hand out at the Christmas Day game.

“The whole Taylor Swift movement is such a wholesome thing,” she said. “All these little girls get to look up to such a good role model.”

Juliano offered another perspective.

“I hope we ruin Taylor Swift’s Christmas,” with a Steelers victory, he said.