A growing trend in American sports is the expansion of international games, and college football is no exception to this phenomenon.
One of the most notable matchups in Week 0 is between Notre Dame and Navy, taking place at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. This is the second consecutive year that Ireland is hosting a college football game, following last year’s Big Ten showdown between Northwestern and Nebraska.
This game is part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, a five-game series that was originally scheduled to start in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notre Dame vs. Navy was supposed to be the inaugural game of the series, making it even more significant that it was the first one to be canceled.
The attendance for last year’s game was a success, with approximately 42,700 fans in attendance. Out of those, around 18,000 were American tourists, while 3,000 came from other countries, according to SBJ.
Both Notre Dame and Navy are familiar with playing at neutral-site locations. Notre Dame often plays in various stadiums across the country due to the national appeal of the brand, while Navy has an annual neutral-site game against Army that changes locations.
MORE: Watch Notre Dame vs. Navy live on Fubo (free trial)
Let’s take a closer look at this year’s Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Ireland.
Where is the Notre Dame vs. Navy game being held?
- Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock, NBCSports.com, Fubo
The game between Notre Dame and Navy will take place at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The stadium, built in 2010, has a capacity of approximately 51,000 and is primarily used for rugby and soccer competitions.
This will be the fourth college football game hosted by Aviva Stadium, with previous games taking place in 2012, 2016, and 2022. Both Notre Dame and Navy have previously played in Dublin, facing each other in 2012, where Notre Dame emerged victorious with a score of 50-10.
Why is the Notre Dame vs. Navy game being played in Dublin?
The Notre Dame vs. Navy game is part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series, which consists of five college football games being played in Dublin. The decision to host this game in Dublin was motivated by the success of a similar event in 2012.
In a statement announcing the game, Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk expressed excitement and anticipation for the event, highlighting the support and enthusiasm from both Navy fans and the Irish government.
Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick also expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to bring a home game atmosphere to Ireland, strengthening the university’s global presence.
A Brief History of College Football Games in Dublin
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic series was originally scheduled to begin in 2020 with the Notre Dame vs. Navy matchup. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was initially moved to Navy’s stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, before being canceled altogether when Notre Dame joined the ACC and adopted an all-conference schedule.
The following game in the series, Nebraska vs. Illinois in 2021, was also canceled due to the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19.
Here is a rundown of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic to date:
| Year | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Notre Dame vs. Navy | Canceled |
| 2021 | Nebraska vs. Illinois | Canceled |
| 2022 | Nebraska vs. Northwestern | Northwestern 31, Nebraska 28 |
| 2023 | Notre Dame vs. Navy | TBD |
The tradition of American colleges playing football games in Ireland dates back to 1988 when the first game, known as the Emerald Isle Classic, was held as part of the Dublin millennium celebrations. Over the years, the games have been given different names, such as the Shamrock Classic and Croke Park Classic, and have typically involved colleges with strong Irish or Catholic affiliations.
Here is a list of all the college football games played in Dublin:
| Year | Matchup | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Boston College vs. Army | Lansdowne Road | Boston College 38, Army 24 |
| 1989 | No. 24 Pitt vs. Rutgers | Lansdowne Road | Pitt 46, Rutgers 29 |
| 1996 | No. 19 Notre Dame vs. Navy | Croke Park | Notre Dame 54, Navy 27 |
| 2012 | Notre Dame vs. Navy | Aviva Stadium | Notre Dame 50, Navy 10 |
| 2014 | Penn State vs. UCF | Croke Park | Penn State 26, UCF 24 |
| 2016 | Georgia Tech vs. Boston College | Aviva Stadium | Georgia Tech 17, Boston College 14 |
| 2022 | Nebraska vs. Northwestern | Aviva Stadium | Northwestern 31, Nebraska 28 |
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