Late August will see The Aviva stadium in Dublin become the epicentre of the college football world, as a sell out crowd welcomes the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their opening match of the NCAA football season against the Navy Midshipmen. The 2023 season opener will be the eighth instalment of the college football classic in Dublin and the third match up of these two football heavyweights in Ireland.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has become an integral part of the global expansion of American Football outside the USA. The match on 26th August will see over 40,000 International fans making their way to the Irish capital. Such was the demand to attend the showpiece event tickets had to be balloted through a lottery, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.
The desire for live, competitive American football fixtures in Europe has saw the popularity of the sport expand considerably over the last 15 years. Dublin has joined London and Munich in opening its doors to receive the bright lights of Americas Game this side of the Atlantic ocean.
Notre Dame v Navy represents one of the classic rivalries at college football level, the annual contest dates back to 1927 with the long standing tradition that was only briefly interrupted during the Covid season in 2020. The rivalry is built more on a competitive mutual respect, rather than the fierce hostility associated with the likes of Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes. Although The Fighting Irish have held the upper hand in terms of results with a 43 year winning streak which stretched back to 1963. The Midshipmen have enjoyed more success recently since their dramatic win in 2007, adding back to back wins in 2009-2010, followed by another victory in 2016.
Both teams have a strong tradition in preparing college athletes for the transition to graduate life, pro-football and the NFL. Hall of fame Quarterback Roger Staubach won 2 Superbowls with Dallas after being drafted from Navy, while the San Francisco 49rs were led to a Superbowl winning dynasty courtesy of former fighting Irish QB Joe Montana. The success stories are not consigned to history, more recently David Givens, Justin Tuck and Joe Cardona have all secured Superbowl rings this century after being drafted from their respective alma mater.
So, what can fans lucky enough to be in Dublin expect? Well, pretty much everything and anything from Pep Rallies to tailgating and marching bands, although free Alcohol and food at the match again this year might be a dream too far. For the fans making the pilgrimage from the US to the fair city of Dublin there is obviously the opportunity to connect with their ancestral roots, as well as taking in the world renowned Guinness storehouse or the Teeling Whiskey distillery tour.
Dublin also offers an up close tour of the 1916 Rebellion and subsequent war for independence from the GPO in O’Connell street to the emotional tours of Glasnevin cemetery or Kilmainham Gaol. After the match and many tours you will also have the incredible pubs and traditional Irish music to sign off the day in style.
