NFL in Dublin: Negotiations ongoing to bring game to Croke Park this autumn

The government is being updated this morning on a proposal to bring an NFL game to Dublin’s Croke Park in the autumn.

The match, if confirmed, is expected to take place between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers - the latter team being owned by the family of former US Ambassador to Ireland, the late Dan Rooney.

Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan is expected to update the cabinet on negotiations surrounding the game, which could see a decision made as soon as this week.

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Government sources said, however, that the business case is currently being thrashed out between the NFL and the Department and that no contracts have been signed yet. Mr O’Donovan is expected to confirm more details in the coming days.

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The match would be expected to take place in September or October of this year in Croke Park. GAA headquarters has hosted American football games before, but this would be a full professional NFL league match.

The competition stages overseas games every year but has not held a full fixture in Ireland before.

With the Super Bowl, the high point of the US football season, scheduled to be played between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, coalition sources are hopeful an announcement can be made at that stage.

Fine Gael’s election manifesto committed the party, if returned to government, to attract more “world events”, including actively bidding to host the likes of the Rugby World Cup, European Football Championships, NFL games and major athletics championships.

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