The historic NFL match held at Croke Park on Sunday delivered a thrilling spectacle, with the Pittsburgh Steelers narrowly defeating the Minnesota Vikings 24-21. The first official NFL regular-season game played on Irish soil lived up to expectations and showcased the sport’s growing appeal as the NFL aims to expand its fan base in Ireland.
Among the notable attendees were former Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating and well-known influencer Miniminter (Simon Minter), highlighting the event’s broad cultural significance. Steelers star Cam Heyward made a stylish entrance wearing a unique leather jacket designed by custom jacket designer Antonia Bronze, which paid homage to his family, Ireland, and the NFL.
While the Minnesota Vikings, named after the legendary Norse warriors, may once have laid claim to Dublin historically, their American football counterparts will want to forget the city after suffering their first international loss following four previous overseas victories. Conversely, the Pittsburgh Steelers, founded by an Irishman from Newry and still owned by the Rooney family, now consider Dublin a second home.
Fans from both teams celebrated post-match at their respective designated pubs—Steeler supporters at Fitzsimons in Temple Bar, waving towels in jubilation, and Vikings fans commiserating at JR Mahon on Burgh Quay. Despite the intense rivalry, both groups mingled amicably after the game.
The match attracted around 30,000 international visitors to Dublin, with an estimated 20 million more tuning in via television and social media platforms worldwide. The Irish Government has claimed the economic benefit of hosting the game to be around €64 million, although this figure has been met with some dispute.
Approximately 76,000 spectators filled GAA headquarters for the event, a slightly reduced capacity compared to the usual 82,000 for an All-Ireland final, due to temporary seating arrangements on Hill 16, which is normally a standing terrace.
Ireland became only the fifth country to host an NFL match outside of the United States, joining the UK, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil. Although the event drew significant international attention, American Football has yet to establish itself as a mainstream sport in Ireland. However, Sunday’s gripping encounter is expected to bolster the NFL’s growing presence in the country.
Ticket prices averaged €295—about three times the cost of an All-Ireland final ticket—meaning only the most dedicated Irish NFL fans were able to attend in person. Each team chose an official Dublin pub as their fan base hub: Fitzsimons for the Steelers and JR Mahon for the Vikings.
The decision to stage the game in Dublin was not without controversy. Some critics questioned the allocation of nearly €10 million in public funds to host the event, arguing that the money might have been better spent supporting Irish sports. The Government defended the investment, citing the global audience and the potential to boost tourism. However, concerns over the city’s rising crime rates surfaced after Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Skylar Thompson was assaulted and robbed in Temple Bar on the Friday night preceding the game.
Of the €10 million funding, €5 million goes directly to the NFL—the world’s richest professional sports league—while the remainder supports infrastructure improvements at Croke Park and other operational costs. In 2024, the NFL distributed more than $13.8 billion (€11.7 billion) in revenue to its 32 teams, with combined team owner wealth estimated at nearly $1 trillion.
By contrast, Ireland’s total core funding for all sports—including GAA, soccer, and boxing—is just under €30 million annually. This means that approximately one-third of all public funding for Irish sports was directed toward a single NFL match.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy criticized the expenditure during an interview on RTE’s This Week program, calling it “utterly crazy” to provide €10 million in public money to the NFL. He argued that the league is wealthy and does not need subsidies to host a game in Ireland, describing the funding as “simply free money” for the NFL.
Murphy further highlighted the disparity with local sports funding, stating, “We’re giving €10 million to the NFL for one game, when the total core funding for all sports in Ireland—GAA, FAI, Sport Ireland, Swim Ireland—is just over €30 million for the entire year. I think the Irish State is being duped here.”
He also raised concerns about the NFL’s soft power connections, noting that “the US military is very often promoted by the NFL,” and criticized the military’s role in international conflicts, including Gaza. He concluded, “I don’t think in any world is it justified for us to put €10 million into this one NFL game.”
Highlighting grassroots sports, Murphy asked listeners to consider the challenges local communities face, with inadequate facilities forcing players to “change at the side of pitches.” He suggested that the €10 million would be better spent supporting local sports development across Ireland.
As Ireland continues to embrace the NFL’s growing footprint, the debate over public investment and sporting priorities reflects broader questions about how best to support and develop sports culture in the country. Sunday’s historic match, despite the controversies, marked a significant milestone in Ireland’s sporting calendar and signaled the NFL’s ongoing ambitions on Irish soil.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/pittsburgh-steelers-stole-show-first-35980771
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