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 involve the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the latter team owned by the family of the late Dan Rooney, former US ambassador to Ireland.
Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan is expected to update the Cabinet on negotiations surrounding the game, with a decision possibly being made as soon as this week.
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However, Government sources said the business case was being thrashed out between the NFL and the department and no contracts have yet been signed.
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Mr O’Donovan is expected to confirm more details in the coming days.
The match would be expected to take place in September or October of this year in Croke Park. GAA headquarters has hosted college American football games before, but this would be a full professional game.
The competition stages overseas games every year but has not previously put on a game in Ireland.
With the Super Bowl, the conclusion of the American football season, set to be played between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans this weekend, Coalition sources were hopeful an announcement can be made at that stage.
Fine Gael’s election manifesto said the party, if returned to government, would 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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