Sport will be an important part of today’s conversation in Dublin as a major Washington, DC, business and political delegation meets Irish leaders to explore opportunities for deeper transatlantic collaboration.
The visit is part of a five-day DC Chamber of Commerce trade mission to London and Dublin, bringing together business, civic, education and economic development leaders from the US capital.
For Sport for Business, this afternoon’s focus will turn specifically to opportunities in sport, technology, and the continued international growth of the Irish sports industry.
Two conversations at National College of Ireland will examine both sides of that opportunity: how Irish sports technology businesses can build into the United States, and how the knowledge, infrastructure and expertise developed within Irish sport can become increasingly exportable.
Sports Tech Born in Ireland, Growing Up in the USA
The first conversation, beginning at 13:15, will bring together three Irish businesses with different perspectives on the role technology can play in sport.
Sport for Business CEO Rob Hartnett will chair the discussion with Fionn Herlihy of WiiStream, Craig Bewley of SportsKey and Colin Deering of Anyscor.
The conversation will look beyond simply developing good technology to the challenge that faces almost every ambitious Irish sports-tech company: how do you successfully scale into a market the size and complexity of the United States?
Ireland has increasingly developed a reputation as a strong environment for sports innovation. Sports Tech Ireland describes the country as having a growing cluster of start-ups and international companies, supported by access to technology talent, funding pathways and organisations including Enterprise Ireland.
The opportunity represented by Washington will always be interesting.
It combines major professional sports properties, universities, technology, government and an increasingly significant sports and entertainment economy. The Washington Commanders’ plans for a new stadium and surrounding mixed-use development at the RFK site are one high-profile example of the scale at which sport is being considered as part of the city’s future economic development.
Today’s discussion will explore what it takes to move from having an Irish product with international potential to establishing relationships, customers and ultimately a meaningful presence in America.
Building Sport the Irish Way
The second Sport for Business conversation will turn that proposition around.
Building Sport the Irish Way will examine whether Ireland’s sporting expertise itself can become a stronger international proposition.
Hartnett will be joined by Keith Brock of Enterprise Ireland and Dermot Rigley of Prime Arena Holdings
Ireland’s sporting system is unusual, and derives great strength from its unique positioning within society.
It combines major international events and professional sport with powerful governing bodies, a huge volunteer base, extensive community infrastructure and an ability to deliver sporting experiences on a scale disproportionate to the size of the country.
That ecosystem contains knowledge with value beyond Ireland.
The discussion will explore where the commercial opportunities might lie in areas including facilities, events, technology, participation, administration and the development of sporting communities, and how the state is supporting that.
Dublin and Washington Building Connections
The sporting conversations sit within a wider programme designed to deepen the relationship between Dublin and Washington DC.
The DC Chamber says the October 4-8 mission is intended to create business-to-business exchanges and identify opportunities for investment and international expansion.
Dublin is a particularly important stop following the memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 between the District of Columbia and World Trade Centre Dublin. That relationship has already included a visit by around 60 Irish CEOs and business leaders to Washington as part of the Gateway to Europe initiative spearheaded by Adie McGennis and Matt Mohan alongside others.
Today’s programme also has a significant education dimension, with National College of Ireland and the University of the District of Columbia moving to formalise a partnership covering student mobility, AI and digital transformation, and institutional exchange.
Sport can sit very comfortably alongside each of those ambitions.
Gateway to Europe, Prime Arena Holdings and many companies in the Technology Space are among the many organisations that see the value of a Sport for Business membership. If you would like to join them and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible, or sign up straight away from the link below.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.
Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
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