Over 27,000 US tourists in Dublin for college football

More than 27,000 American tourists are in Dublin to watch the opening fixture of the US college football season.

The sell-out game at the Aviva Stadium between Florida State University and Georgia Tech kicked off at 5pm.

The game will have a television audience of more than 3.5 million and is expected to generate at least €115 million for the Irish economy.

The Irish capital has played host to this key event in the American football calendar for a number of years.

Last year it was the largest ever single movement of US citizens outside the US for an individual sporting event and it generated a record €180m for the Irish economy.

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The event is also more than just a game, with plenty of business happening on the margins – including a meeting earlier this week of around 400 CEOs from Irish and American companies.

There is Irish interest too in this years fixture with Kerry native David Shanahan in the Georgia Tech squad.

More than 3.5 million viewers in the US watch this game on ESPN, with the station hosting its pre-game coverage from Dame Street in Dublin, the first time this has been done outside the US.

There is also a growing interest in American football here and this year TG4 are also broadcasting the game for the first time on free to air television in Ireland

Pep rallies and tailgating parties took place around Dublin in the lead up to fixture and US broadcasters have been broadcasting television reports, radio programmes and podcasts from the Irish capital.

Thousands of fans gathered in College Green as ESPN broadcast a three-hour pre-match prgramme from a large stage at the front of Trinity College

Cheerleaders, mascots and a marching band performed for the thousands in the crowd who were waving home-made posters and dressed in their team colours.

Many supporters spoke about the unique atmosphere of attending an American football game here, saying that the hospitality and the beauty of Ireland were a key part of their experience.

A man who have travelled from Florida with his wife and children said: “It’s like a once in a lifetime experience to come here to Ireland to see our favourite team play. I couldn’t miss it.”

A former Florida State student sporting overalls in the team colours said: “Everyone’s been welcoming, and I love the culture, and had a great time.”

Another man in a gold sequinned jacket said it was his first time travelling to Europe. “Its my first time across the pond. It’s delicious. Y’all have done a beautiful job with the place.”

Another Florida man wearing a native American headpiece and holding a sign saying ‘Feck Georgia Tech’ said “The game is just a bonus on top of seeing this beautiful place”.

Padraic O’Kane, Director and Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, said many of those who travel to Ireland for this fixture, which is now in its tenth year in Dublin, have never left the US before, including the team members

“So the big win here is, unlike others sport event, they’re here for seven nights. They’re in all around the country, three nights of Dublin, four nights away. And most of them have are coming out of the United States for the first time. 80% of team don’t have a passport when we start the journey with them.”

Mr O’Kane says the event is sold out for a second year in a row due to the increasing popularity of American football in Ireland

“We’re in a space where there’s a huge interest here among Irish people, in American football. I think there’s 22 teams in Ireland that are playing at a now. So developing that is a hugely important part.

“At the game about 20,000 of the crowd will be Irish so its a lovely integration of Ireland and America to celebrate everything that our two countries represent.”

Paul Sweetman, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, said the event was giving Irish politicians and businesses face time with many in the US business community

“We’ve had the chance in the last week to meet with politicians and business leaders who’ve all travelled here, anchored around the game, and in those meetings, we talked about Ireland being a great place for US Foreign Direct Investment but also Ireland being a springboard for Irish companies to propel themselves into the US market.”

Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne said: “This game highlights Ireland’s capacity to host major international sports events and, by hosting such events, we can drive participation levels in sport and build a lasting legacy on so many fronts.

“Importantly, this series also delivers trade, tourism, business, community engagement and economic benefits and it strongly positions Ireland as a home for American football in Europe.”