Dublin is gearing up for a slice of American life next week, as the Aer Lingus College Football Classic and Game-Week 2016 events take over the Capital – kicking off on Wednesday 31st August and culminating in the main event – Boston College V Georgia Tech on Saturday, 3rd September at the Aviva Stadium.

More than 20,000 of our cousins from across the pond will touchdown in Dublin next week. Their arrival, and the four days of Irish-American events, is expected to deliver €45 million to the Irish economy. Under the banner ‘Much More Than A Game’, a full schedule of events has been organized, starting from next Wednesday.

Trinity College Dublin will be the venue for the official Game Week Welcome Village and will play host to a variety of social, cultural and business-orientated activities. In addition to over 100 American Football squad members per team, both colleges are travelling with a 150-piece strong marching band and cheerleading troops, who will perform at the pep rallies and take part in the age-old tradition of the game day Tailgate at The Welcome Village.

As part of Game-Week 2016, Senator George Mitchell will be the keynote speaker at the Irish Institute Alumni luncheon, on Wednesday 31st August in the Round Room at the Mansion House. On Thursday, 1st September, there will be a joint high-level faculty symposium, the ‘University and the Innovation Economy’, comprising of senior political, academic and business leaders, at the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College Dublin.

On Friday, 2nd September, Donnybrook Stadium will play host to a triple-header of high school American Football games, to mark the opening of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The games at the 6,000-capacity venue will kick off at 11am, 2pm and 5pm. Admission to the stadium is free of charge for children under 16, adults are encouraged to make a voluntary donation of €10 for their entry, with all proceeds being donated to Special Olympics Ireland – official charity partner.

Also taking place on Friday, 2nd September is one of the business highlights of the week’s events. The Boston College CEO Global Forum will be held at the Round Room at the Mansion House. The event will be co-hosted by Neil Naughton, Deputy Chairman of Glen Dimplex, and Jay Hooley, Chairman and CEO of State Street Corporation with Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Coca Cola Company taking on the role of the keynote speaker. This will be the first time the organization will hold one of their events outside of the United States and will bring together global leaders from Boston, Atlanta, Europe and Ireland.

On Saturday, 3rd September, the main event – the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Boston College V Georgia Tech at the Aviva Stadium – will kick off at 12.30pm. There are a limited number of game tickets still available, which can be purchased via www.ticketmaster.ie.