When the Pittsburgh Steelers take to the field in Croke Park this September, it will mark a historic milestone, not just for Ireland, but for the NFL’s international ambitions.
According to Henry Hodgson, General Manager of NFL UK and Ireland, the journey to bring American football to Irish soil was as intricate as the sport itself.
“The Steelers only joined the global markets program two years ago,” he explained in a conversation with media at Dublin Castle yesterday.
“So to go from that commitment to actually playing a regular-season game here in such a short space of time is really quite extraordinary.”
The Steelers, one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises, were allowed to “protect” two of their nine home games for Pittsburgh, part of a broader schedule-balancing act involving stadium availability and broadcast commitments.
Once that was set, the Minnesota Vikings emerged early in the process as a likely opponent.
Hodgson credits the Steelers’ Irish ties and the backing of local institutions for fast-tracking the game.
“The Rooney family, who own the Steelers, have deep roots in Ireland. Their enthusiasm, combined with the support from the Irish government, Dublin City Council, Croke Park, and Sport Ireland, really created a perfect storm.”
Fan engagement will go well beyond the game. Hodgson teased extensive city-wide activations smiling as he said “You’ll have a hard time escaping the fact the NFL’s in town that week. We’re working closely with Dublin City Council and the GAA to really take over the city.”
While specific details are still under wraps, Hodgson confirmed there will be a halftime show and a full entertainment slate around the game.
Ticket information will soon be made available to those registered on nfl.com/dublin, with sales expected to begin in the next 10 days.
The NFL is also looking to invest in the sport’s grassroots.
“Flag football is our non-contact version of the game, and it’s growing rapidly,” he said.
“We’ve already had a team from Dublin represent Ireland at the Pro Bowl. We’re working with Sport Ireland, Dublin City Council and American Football Ireland to grow that even further.”
When asked whether this Dublin game could become a fixture, Hodgson struck a hopeful but measured tone.
“We’ve agreed with the government to evaluate the impact in economic, social, logistical terms after this first game. We’ll then look at how often we might return.”
Still, with five NFL franchises now linked to Ireland under the global markets program—Pittsburgh, the New York Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City, and the Green Bay Packers, the momentum is clear.
“It didn’t feel like we were pushing on a closed door,” said Hodgson. “Everything just came together. We’re excited for what’s to come.”
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Check out Sport for Business coverage of the NFL in Dublin
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
So too are we excited for what is to come. The game will be the same weekend as the Ryder Cup taking place in New York, promising a sporting few days to become completely immersed in and remember forever.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Details of tickets going on sale are around seven to ten days away. We will be tracking and bringing you the news and the characters from the game over the next four months and hopefully long beyond that.
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