Jason and Travis Kelce didn't just start a podcast; they accidentally built a traveling circus that somehow makes more sense than half the pregame shows on network TV. It's wild. If you've spent any time on social media over the last two years, you’ve seen the clips. Beer chugging. Emotional retirements. Celebrity cameos that feel more like a backyard BBQ than a corporate production. The new heights podcast live experience has turned into a legitimate cultural phenomenon that bridges the gap between die-hard NFL film junkies and people who couldn't tell you what a "holding" penalty is if their life depended on it.
People show up. Thousands of them.
Honestly, the chemistry between the Kelce brothers is the engine, but the live shows are where the wheels actually hit the pavement. It’s one thing to watch two brothers chat over a Zoom link from their respective basements in Philly and Kansas City. It's a completely different beast to see them command an audience at a sold-out venue like University of Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena.
The Chaos of the University of Cincinnati Special
Let’s talk about that Cincinnati show for a second because it’s basically the blueprint for what makes these events work. It wasn't just a recording. It was a homecoming. You had Jason, freshly retired and looking like he was having the time of his life, and Travis, who at the time was arguably the most famous man on the planet not named Swift.
The crowd wasn't just there to listen. They were there to participate.
When Joe Burrow walked out, the place nearly collapsed. That’s the magic. Most sports podcasts stay in the lane of "here is my take on the 4-3 defense." The Kelces? They brought out Orlando Brown Jr. and had a commencement ceremony for themselves since they never actually walked at their own graduation years ago. It’s that blend of high-level sports insight and "we’re just kids from Cleveland" energy that makes the new heights podcast live tickets some of the hardest to get in the industry.
You see, traditional media is terrified of this.
For decades, we were told that sports stars had to be polished. They had to speak in clichés. "We gave 110 percent." "We’re taking it one game at a time." Jason and Travis killed that. At a live show, Jason might be wearing a Luchador mask or chugging a beer with a fan while Travis narrates the whole thing like a chaotic hype man. It feels authentic. It feels like you’re in on the joke, rather than being lectured by a talking head in a $3,000 suit.
Why Live Sports Media is Changing
The "92%ers"—that's the fan base name, for those out of the loop—aren't just there for the football. Sure, they want to hear about the "tush push" or what it’s like to face a blindside blitz. But they’re also there for the brotherly ribbing.
They’re there for the heart.
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The live shows have turned into a community event. You’ll see families in Kelce jerseys—half Eagles, half Chiefs—which is a weirdly wholesome sight in a sports world that is usually defined by aggressive tribalism. The new heights podcast live format works because it’s unpredictable. Most live recordings of podcasts are boring. You sit there, you watch two people talk into mics, you go home.
The Kelces turned it into a variety show.
The Secret Sauce: Access and Vulnerability
Think about the raw emotion we've seen. When Jason Kelce officially hung up the cleats, the podcast became the primary vessel for his goodbye. At live events, that vulnerability is even more palpable. You’re seeing these guys in their element, unedited and unfiltered. There is no producer in an earpiece telling them to pivot to a commercial break.
If they want to talk about "fat guy" touchdowns for twenty minutes, they do it.
If they want to bring their parents, Ed and Donna Kelce, onto the stage to settle a childhood argument, they do it. This level of access is unprecedented for active (or recently active) Hall of Fame-caliber athletes. Usually, you have to wait for a 10-part documentary on a streaming service five years after they retire to get this kind of insight.
The Logistics of a Mega-Podcast Tour
Hosting a new heights podcast live event isn't as simple as just showing up with a couple of Shure SM7B microphones. The production value has skyrocketed. We're talking professional lighting, high-end audio engineering, and a team of people managing guests that range from Super Bowl MVPs to legendary comedians.
And then there's the merch.
The lines for "Big Yeti" shirts or "New Heights" hoodies at these live shows are longer than the lines for the actual concessions. It’s a business juggernaut. It’s reported that the podcast signed a massive deal with Wondery (owned by Amazon) worth upwards of $100 million over three years. That kind of capital allows them to turn a simple live show into a full-blown arena production.
They aren't just podcasters anymore. They are media moguls.
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Does the "Taylor Effect" Matter?
We have to address the elephant in the room. A significant portion of the new audience for these live events comes from the "Swiftie" crossover. It’s a reality. Since Travis started dating Taylor Swift, the demographic of the show has shifted.
But here’s the thing: it didn't ruin the show.
If anything, it made it more interesting. The Kelce brothers handled the influx of millions of new fans with a surprising amount of grace. They didn't lean into the gossip to be "clickbaity," but they didn't ignore it either. At the live shows, you'll see fans who came for the Travis/Taylor lore but stayed because they realized Jason is actually the funniest person in professional sports. It’s a gateway drug to NFL fandom.
What to Expect If You Actually Go
If you manage to snag a seat at a future new heights podcast live recording, don't expect a quiet evening of intellectual discourse.
Expect noise.
Expect "Flight Track," where they track where they are in the world. Expect "No Dumb Questions," which usually results in Jason explaining some obscure NFL rule in a way that makes sense to a five-year-old. Expect a lot of "Alright Nah."
The energy is more like a college football tailgate than a recording studio.
The brothers have a way of making a room of 10,000 people feel like a small dive bar in Cleveland Heights. That is a rare skill. Most celebrities, when they reach this level of fame, become guarded. They become "brands." The Kelces have managed to stay "the guys."
The Ripple Effect on the NFL
The NFL loves this. Why wouldn't they?
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The new heights podcast live events are doing more for the league’s marketing than almost any official campaign. They are humanizing the players. They are showing that these guys have lives, interests, and families outside of the gridiron. It’s creating a more engaged, emotionally invested fan base.
When you see Jason Kelce lose his mind over a great play during a live show, you realize he’s a fan just like you.
It’s also paved the way for other players to start their own shows. Now, every locker room has a "podcast guy." But none of them have quite captured the lightning in a bottle that the Kelce brothers have. It’s the combination of Jason’s "man of the people" blue-collar vibe and Travis’s "superstar with a heart of gold" persona. You can't manufacture that in a boardroom.
Looking Ahead to Future Shows
What’s next? Probably bigger venues. Maybe an international tour? With the NFL's push into London, Germany, and Brazil, it wouldn't be shocking to see a new heights podcast live event at Wembley or the Allianz Arena.
The demand is clearly there.
People want connection. In a world of AI-generated content and scripted PR statements, the raw, loud, beer-soaked reality of a Kelce brother live show is a breath of fresh air. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s often inappropriate. And it’s exactly what sports media needed.
How to Get the Most Out of the New Heights Experience
If you're looking to dive into the world of the 92%ers or attend a future event, there are a few things you should know. It's not just about showing up; it's about knowing the lore.
- Catch up on the "New News": Before attending or watching a live show, listen to the last three episodes. The jokes are often iterative. If you don't know why everyone is yelling about a "Big Yeti," you're going to feel lost.
- Watch the YouTube version first: While the audio is great for commuting, the new heights podcast live experience is visual. You need to see the facial expressions. Jason’s reactions to Travis’s stories are half the entertainment.
- Follow the "92%ers" community: The fan base on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) is incredibly active. They often have the first word on when "surprise" live pop-ups are happening or when merch drops are scheduled.
- Check local listings during NFL events: The Kelces tend to do live shows around big milestones—the Super Bowl, the Draft, or major rivalry games. If the NFL is descending on a city, there's a high probability a live show isn't far behind.
The reality of modern sports is that the game on the field is only half the story. The other half is the personality, the drama, and the community that built up around it. Jason and Travis Kelce didn't just find a way to talk about football; they found a way to make us feel like we're part of the family. Whether they're on a stage in Cincinnati or recording from a beach in the off-season, the new heights podcast live phenomenon is proof that authenticity is still the most valuable currency in media.
Go watch a clip of Jason chugging a beer with a fan wearing a Bigfoot costume. If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about the state of sports in 2026, nothing will. It’s chaotic, it’s a bit ridiculous, and it’s exactly why we keep tuning in.