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As Tight End University kicks off in Nashville for its fifth year, the annual summit of NFL players hosted by Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Greg Olsen is being courted by other cities that want to bring the popular showcase to town.
TEU has brought together NFL tight ends (75 of them this month) for several days each summer since 2021 for positional training work at Vanderbilt’s football facilities—and plenty of fun off campus. But as the event grows, it could turn into a traveling road show akin to the NFL Draft.
“We might look at other cities moving forward,” Rubicon Talent founder Peter Raskin, whose agency produces TEU and reps Kittle and Olsen, told Front Office Sports.
Potential suitors include cities both inside and outside the U.S. “We’re debating location,” Raskin said. “If we’re back in Nashville or we’re looking at other markets. We’ve gotten interest from other cities asking us to bring the event there, and other countries.”
Follow the Money
The business of TEU is intriguing. Every tight end on an NFL roster is invited, and all their expenses are covered, thanks to revenue brought in by the event’s robust list of sponsors.
Tight ends can even bring their significant other, as roughly 40 were planning to do this year. Taylor Swift, Kelce’s superstar girlfriend, added some hype to TEU by attending Monday night’s welcome party. Throughout the week, the WAGs have organized brunches, shopping experiences, and a mobile med spa, among other activities.
TEU makes money, but it isn’t a cash grab for Kelce, Kittle, and Olsen. “Every dollar we make goes towards the event, and whatever we don’t spend goes to charity,” Raskin said, estimating they donated $2.5 million in the first four years. “We are not looking to make a profit, so we’ve turned down more sponsors than we’ve probably taken on.”
This year’s event is bigger than ever, and has more attention, too. ESPN’s studio show NFL Live is broadcasting live from Vanderbilt on Tuesday, and TEU has added a golf tournament for its participants on Wednesday.
The only fan element for the mostly private event is a country concert Tuesday night that sells tickets to the public. But TEU is looking into adding more ways for spectators to be a part of the summit, which Raskin said “will probably happen” in 2026, depending on where TEU ends up being hosted.
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