It has been confirmed in the last few minutes that Dublin is to host a first ever regular season NFL game in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the designated home team.
The game will be played at Croke Park and will be one of the biggest international events to be staged on the island of Ireland.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic produced a report with Grant Thornton which showed the value of the 2023 game between Notre Dame and Navy as being worth €180 million and this will be a multiple of that given the bigger attendance in the stadium alone.
Peter O’Reilly of the NFL paid tribute to the Irish Government, Dublin City Council and the GAA who will be partners in the game.
“We are delighted to officially bring a regular season NFL game to Ireland as part of our 2025 International Games slate,” said Executive Vice President International, League Events and Club Business at the NFL Peter O’Reilly.
“Both the NFL and the Steelers franchise have deep roots and history in Ireland, and we’re looking forward to making our regular-season debut in Dublin, bringing our game to a large and passionate Irish fan base and underlining the NFL’s commitment to global growth.”
“We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season,” said Steelers’ President Art Rooney II.
“The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland. We are thrilled to be part of this historic event to represent Pittsburgh in a game that brings the NFL to the great sports fans in Ireland.”
“This is a major vote of confidence in Ireland’s ability to host world class events and in Dublin’s reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the world,” said Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD.
“Hosting a regular season NFL game in 2025 will have huge benefits for Irish tourism, the wider economy and our sports ecosystem. It will also build upon the deep cultural, family and economic ties between Ireland and the United States.”
“I look forward to welcoming thousands of American football fans from the U.S., Europe and further afield to our shores for this historic game, and also to the ongoing collaboration with the NFL, Sport Ireland and American Football Ireland to grow American football participation in Ireland, both the tackle and flag format of the game, as part of the government’s commitment to increasing the number of people regularly participating in sport and physical activity.”
“Ireland has already established itself as a key overseas home for American college football with the established success of the annual College Classic every August” said Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue. “Bringing the NFL to Dublin is a logical and natural next step and builds on the growing engagement among Irish sports fans with all forms of American football. It also builds on the deep relationships between Ireland and the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Rooney family, and I hope that the Rooneys and the Steelers Nation will feel like they’re coming home when they arrive in Ireland.”
Ireland is the sixth country outside the United States to host games after Mexico, England, Germany, and Brazil.
Croke Park has played host to many iconic sporting moments. . It is the home of the GAA and hosts the Gaelic football and hurling All-Ireland finals every year, in 2003 it held the Special Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies and in 1996 it held the college football game between Notre Dame and the Navy. In addition to its sporting heritage, the venue has welcomed global music icons including U2, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and Taylor Swift.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers to Croke Park,” said GAA President, Jarlath Burns. “This event will not only highlight our stadium’s world-class facilities but also reinforce the connections and love of sport shared between our communities. Croke Park is a proud symbol of Ireland’s rich sporting heritage, and hosting one of the world’s best sporting organisations is a momentous occasion for the entire country. It will be a special and unique event, celebrating the passion uniting two great sporting codes in the heart of Dublin.”
The full matchup including opposition, date and kickoff time will be announced when the 2025 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
This is a momentous occasion and for those who do not yet realise how big it is going to be, just wait.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Fixture dates and details will be announced shortly.
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