Historic First: Steelers vs Vikings Set for Landmark NFL Game at Croke Park in Dublin

American Football’s First Footsteps in Croke Park

While September’s clash will be the first NFL regular season game on Irish soil, it will not be the first time Croke Park has hosted American football. The ground has staged two major college football matchups that helped pave the way for the NFL’s arrival.

In 1996, Croke Park welcomed over 38,000 fans for a meeting between Notre Dame and Navy, a fixture steeped in tradition. For many Irish fans, it was their first live taste of American football, with the Fighting Irish’s name and heritage adding an extra layer of resonance.

Eighteen years later, in 2014, the stadium again became a transatlantic stage when Penn State faced UCF. The game drew more than 53,000 spectators and showcased not only the sport’s growth in popularity but also Ireland’s capacity to stage a world-class football event.

These games were early signals that Dublin could be more than a novelty host for gridiron. Each left behind memories, atmosphere, and lessons that the NFL now builds upon. In many ways, the Steelers and Vikings will be completing a journey that began nearly three decades ago, when college football first brought American pageantry to Croke Park.

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Steelers’ Irish Roots Come Home

Few franchises are more suited to headline this moment than the Steelers. The Rooney family, who have owned the team since its founding, trace their lineage to County Down. That connection has been celebrated in Pittsburgh for decades. Now it has a physical stage.

Dan Rooney, the team’s Director of Business Development, has been forthright about the ambition:

“It’s been a goal from the start, being able to pursue an opportunity to play a live game in front of the Irish fans.”

Daniel Martin Rooney, grandson of Art Rooney Sr., put it even more personally:

“Growing up around my grandfather, and my father, one of the lessons they have always taught us is our strong connection to Ireland, and how meaningful Ireland is to the family. This is truly a dream come true for our franchise.”

For Pittsburgh, this is not a branding exercise. It is family roots written across the turf of Croke Park.

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Ireland’s €10 Million Gamble

The Irish government has invested €10 million ($10.8m) to bring the game to Dublin, confident of a significant return. Officials project an €80 million ($86m) boost through tourism, hospitality, and wider spending.

Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, defended the outlay:

“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.”

Henry Hodgson, the NFL’s General Manager for the UK and Ireland, highlighted the broader impact:

“What we can see in terms of the cities we go into, what that investment looks like, in terms of economic impact, direct and indirect, and the social impact.”

Demand already suggests the gamble will pay off. More than 600,000 fans registered for tickets, dwarfing the stadium’s adjusted capacity.

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Virgin Media Opens the Door

If Croke Park is the headline act, television is the legacy. In September, the NFL announced a landmark deal with Virgin Media Television, making them the first free-to-air NFL broadcaster in Ireland.

The partnership covers ten games this season, including all six European fixtures, three playoff matchups, and Super Bowl LX.

Laura Louisy, the NFL’s Director of International Business Development, described it as a milestone:

“The 2025 NFL Dublin game marks an exciting milestone for the sport in Ireland as we look to grow fandom in the market. Virgin Media Television is a fantastic partner, not only bringing this historic game to Irish audiences free-to-air, but also delivering broader access to the sport throughout the 2025 season.”

Mick McCaffrey, Virgin Media’s Director of News and Sports, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with the NFL to broadcast ten thrilling games this season, including the historic Vikings vs. Steelers matchup at Croke Park. The sport has never been more popular in Ireland, and we’re excited to bring viewers our own analysis and take on the best of the live action — all free-to-air.”

For decades, the NFL in Ireland was tucked behind paywalls. This is different. This is access, the first step to making the sport mainstream.

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What the Steelers Stand to Gain

The Steelers stand to leave Dublin with more than just the result on the scoreboard. The game provides an unmatched opportunity to grow their fanbase, with pop-up stores and city branding designed to turn curiosity into long-term loyalty. Every Terrible Towel waved in an Irish pub is an investment in the team’s future.

It also strengthens their cultural credibility. The Rooney family’s Irish heritage makes the Steelers authentic in a way no other NFL franchise can replicate. And on a global stage, a packed Croke Park and millions watching free-to-air give both the players and the organisation unprecedented visibility.

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The NFL’s European Ambitions

Ireland is the latest step in a strategy that has already established London, Munich, Berlin, and Madrid as international hosts. Each city has delivered scale, passion, and atmosphere. Dublin adds something different: a small country with a huge diaspora, a sporting culture steeped in tradition, and a government willing to invest in global events.

Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of International Events, put it simply:

“The excitement to bring a regular-season game to Ireland with the Steelers … how special that will be … it ultimately comes back to the fans.” 

If Dublin delivers, it could join London as a permanent fixture in the NFL’s international calendar.

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Risks and Realities

Hosting an event of this scale comes with its risks. Croke Park has been adapted to NFL standards, reducing capacity but ensuring compliance. Ticket demand has outstripped supply many times over, raising questions about access for local fans. And Dublin’s infrastructure, from transport to accommodation, will be tested under global scrutiny.

The success of the night will be measured not only by the spectacle on the field but by how seamlessly the city handles everything around it.

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A Fusion of Steel and Shamrock

When the Steelers and Vikings walk out under the floodlights of Croke Park, it will be more than the start of a game. It will be the meeting of steel and shamrock, of diaspora and homecoming, of sport and society.

For Ireland, it is a global showcase worth €80 million ($86m). For the NFL, it is another step towards European permanence. For the Steelers, it is history meeting the present, a chance to become Ireland’s team in more than heritage alone.

And for fans,  in Dublin pubs, Pittsburgh living rooms, or watching free-to-air on Virgin Media, it will be remembered long after the final whistle, as the night history and heritage finally shared the same field.