It’s the worst-keep secret in sports that Art Rooney II is excited about bringing the Pittsburgh Steelers to Ireland for an NFL regular season game. And now, it’s almost guaranteed that a game in Ireland will be set for the fall of 2025. While the Rooney Family has been reluctant to send the Steelers to England or Germany for the International Series, the Steelers have played only one game abroad, back in 2013, and the allure of Ireland for the family is plain to see.
Yet, the stars seem to have aligned to bring the Steelers to Dublin next year, and it will be a momentous moment, not just for the team. Croke Park is an almost sacred place for the Irish, an iconic stadium that has a role in the nation’s history that transcends sports. Being the first NFL team to play there will be an honor for the Steelers, and it would be a reminder of the historic links between Steel City and the island of Ireland. It could also be good business for the Steelers as a franchise.
NFL is growing in popularity in Ireland
It is worth noting that the NFL is growing in popularity in Ireland. The fans there will interact with the NFL in much the same way as US fans, watching the games on a Sunday, playing fantasy sports, working out their NFL points spread strategies for the games, and so on. The NFL is, of course, not on a level with traditional Gaelic sports like Gaelic football and hurling, nor the imported Anglo sports like rugby and soccer, but it is growing quickly in stature. And that’s important.
In a sense, there is an opportunity for the Steelers to set down a marker among Irish fans. Historically, there is an affinity between Irish NFL fans and the Steelers. Still, there are also links between the Irish and the New England Patriots, which the Patriots’ success has helped in the 2000s and 2010s. Yet, the country is fertile for an NFL franchise to become a dominant brand, and we’d argue that the Rooney Family is well aware of that. The family may have historic ties to Ireland, but it’s also a business opportunity.
Croke Park is a stadium like no other.
As for Croke Park, well, it’ll be an experience. It’s one of the biggest in Europe by capacity, holding about 15,000 fans more than the Acrisure Stadium. It would be a surprise if any game fails to be a sellout, even if it did not feature the Steelers. The stadium dates back to 1884, although there have been redevelopments since then. An old rule deemed that no foreign sports could be played on the hallowed ground for many years, although the Gaelic Athletic Association lifted that ban in the 21st century. Still, it underlines again how special it would be for the Steelers to be the first to play a ‘foreign’ sport there.
The Irish sports media is rife with speculation over the event, and that will only grow as we get closer to the start of next season. Art Rooney II has been vocal about wanting to bring his team to Ireland. Most Steelers fans would prefer that Rooney makes the best decision for the team, and that means weighing up what a trip to Dublin would do in terms of impact on the team’s season. Before all this gets decided, the Steelers have business in the offseason, hopefully ensuring that the team that comes to Ireland is a contender in the Playoffs next season. That will be the focus for the team and fans. But once the 2025 season gets underway, that pit stop in Ireland will be an interesting game—a little history – and hopefully a win – for the Steelers.
