This month sees host city Dublin welcome back the Aer Lingus College Football Classic for the first US college football game of the 2024 season, with the highly anticipated match between Georgia Tech and Florida State University taking place on 24th August in the Aviva Stadium.
With over 47,000 tickets sold, the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic game is officially a sell-out, the second year in a row to do so. This includes over 25,000 Americans who will journey to the nation’s capital to attend ‘week zero’ of the US college football season.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has consistently boosted Ireland’s economy, according to Grant Thornton’s Post-Game Economic Impact Reports. Last year’s game between Navy and Notre Dame (Fighting Irish) generated a record €180m for the local Irish economy.
The €180m economic impact figure provides a solid impact calculation based on factual data and analysis. It is also crucial to acknowledge that this represents a conservative estimate. In reality, the true value of the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic extends far beyond this figure.
Combined with the estimated €53.5m impact of the 2022 Classic between the University of Nebraska and Northwestern University, and a projected economic impact in excess of €115 million for this year’s game, the first three games in this initial five-game series are set to contribute over €350 million in total.
This underscores the Aer Lingus College Football Classic’s Steering Committee’s crucial role in enhancing tourism, supporting the local economy, and fostering international business connections, primarily driven by the influx of US visitors to the games, who will fill hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions.
The events mark some of the highest revenue-generating sporting events ever held in Ireland, with last year’s game witnessing the largest-ever single movement of US citizens outside of the US for an individual sporting event.
This clash is #MuchMoreThanAGame, with events taking place across the city, including pep rallies in Smithfield Square and Merrion Square, tailgating pubs brought to you by Budweiser all week, live radio and podcast broadcasts and events from top American football presenters in pubs and whiskey distilleries in Dublin. Other activities lined up include the high school based Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT), being held at Donnybrook Stadium, as well as Irish shopping experiences, Irish music and dance experiences throughout the city.
Additionally, community, business, academic, medical and sporting events are planned around Dublin throughout the week. One such event is the Ireland-US CEO Club, which will attract up to 400 Irish and US CEOs to this prestigious event.
A full schedule of activities for the week, along with tickets for purchase to the high school football games (GIFT), is available through the official Game App (collegefootballireland.com/app). Further details on events will be announced in the week leading up to the sell-out clash.
This year’s game is expected to draw a global audience, with over 3.5 million viewers tuning in across the US on ESPN. ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will broadcast directly from Dame Street in Dublin City centre – the first time the prestigious pre-game show will be broadcast from outside the US.
TG4 has also confirmed that the station will broadcast the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, marking the first time the match will be broadcast live on free-to-air television in Ireland, while Sky Sports will cover the game in the UK.
“This game has become a key part of the Irish sporting calendar,” said Tourism Minister Catherine Martin, “and it strengthens the incredibly deep and valuable relationship between the US and Ireland. I am pleased we are supporting the game via the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as it gives so many first-time visitors to Ireland a chance to explore our wonderful island and reason to return again in the future.”
“We are thrilled to once again showcase the very best of college football here in Dublin,” said Padraic O’Kane, Director and Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. “The passion and excitement that this event generates is truly remarkable, and we are delighted to welcome fans from all over the world to experience the unique atmosphere of a game day in Ireland.
“Adding to the excitement, the game features a local connection with David Shanahan, a native of County Kerry, suiting up for Georgia Tech. Shanahan’s presence is sure to ignite even greater enthusiasm among Irish fans. It’s all roads leading to the Aviva Stadium this month as we prepare for the fantastic lineup of events.”
Susanne Carberry,Chief Customer Officer, Aer Lingus, said: “At Aer Lingus, we take great pride in the role we play in connecting people, places, and possibilities.
“The Aer Lingus College Football Classic offers us a special opportunity to do this as we bring the energy and excitement of College Football to Ireland, while also showcasing our brand and country to a global audience of millions.
“We are thrilled that over 25,000 fans will travel from the US to Dublin for this unique sporting celebration.
“We take great pleasure in saying ‘you’re very welcome’ to the teams from Georgia Tech and Florida State, as well as their supporters, as they travel to Ireland with Aer Lingus.”
