Editor’s note: Each year, the sports department contributes to the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund via Proudfoot Corner. The drive allows children from financially disadvantaged families across the GTA to enjoy a gift box Christmas morning.
Proudfoot Corner is our long-standing tradition of recognizing donors. And while we do, this year we’ll take a behind-the-scenes look at some of the stories our journalists worked on.
BUFFALO, N.Y.—The tailgate at the Buffalo Bills game on Sunday had all the usual elements to it.
Fans were blaring music, ringing cowbells and chanting the name of their beloved football team. The barbecues, bon fires and beer funnels surrounding Highmark Stadium seemed endless.
But there was also a different element at this particular game.
People were trading friendship bracelets. High-fives were exchanged by strangers wearing matching Eras Tour shirts. Children were running around hoisting sticks attached to their favourite singer’s face up in the air.
With Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour wrapping up three shows in Toronto last Saturday, and her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs visiting the Bills just down the QEW, Swifties came to Buffalo to get a taste of America’s most popular sport.
For many families, the Swift-effect has given them a reason to bond over football for the first time.
Eight-year-old Summer Foley isn’t a football fan, but when she found out Swift might be in attendance Sunday — it was widely speculated she would attend to watch Kelce play after her Toronto show a night earlier — she was looking forward to making the trip from Maryland to Buffalo with her family to watch her first NFL game.
“Summer got much more excited to come to the game,” said Shannon Foley. “She doesn’t like football that much but she was very excited to come see the game in hopes that she’d see her.”
While the rest of the group was all decked out in Bills gear, Summer decided to wear her pink Eras Tour sweater just in case Swift saw her. She didn’t want to risk upsetting her hero.
Lindsey Nierstedt and Jasmine Fairlie, family friends from upstate New York, saw one of Swift’s three shows in Toronto last weekend.
Swift’s foray into football has given them something new to enjoy together in addition to their love of music.
“Honestly I was a Travis (Kelce) fan before they got together, but I didn’t have a team,” said Fairlie, 23. “So obviously when they got together I thought, well, I can be a Chiefs fan.”
As the game went on, it became clear that Swift wasn’t in attendance. And while that was disappointing to many who hoped to see her cheering on Kelce from a suite, there were plenty of other moments that could be stored away as family memories.
From the pre-game Blackhawk helicopter flyover to Josh Allen’s electric touchdown run in the fourth quarter to the entire crowd singing “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers to celebrate the Bills’ win, everyone was treated to a heck of a show.
“It’s been very rewarding having something for both of them to do at the same time,” Jimmy Flex said of his 11-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son. His family flew from Houston to see a concert in Toronto before catching the Bills game.
“We booked a vacation around it, it’s part of their Christmas presents.”
As Swift says in her song “Shake it Off” … haters gonna hate, hate, hate. But in my eyes, there’s no denying the power of the unique way she’s able to bring people together.
On the Corner: We kick off the corner this week with a $105 donation from the Devereux family … we can always count on our Toronto Star family to help out and this week we have $500 from Robyn Matsumoto and $200 from former Star sports editor Phil Bingley … Robert Stogryn gives $245 in memory of Deirdre Veit.
Glenn Pollinger donates $50 in memory of Jack Pollinger … $150 comes from John Fanning … Johnnyc helps out with $35 … John Arrabito comes through with $50 … Allan Waldron donates $105 as do Daniel and Dionne Cude …and another $105 comes from Rick Dominico, in memory of his Dad and long-time contributor, Tom. Many thanks to all!
