- Dublin’s Aviva Stadium has been sold out since March and could have been sold twice over. These tickets were among the hottest ever for a game.
- Over 35,000 Americans are travelling to Dublin for the game. This is the biggest ever movement of Americans into Ireland.
- The Notre Dame v Navy game is worth $100 million to the Irish economy.
- The 2nd September will be the busiest day ever in the history of Dublin airport.
- The Welcome Home/Pep Rally at the O2 Arena has sold out. It will be screened live on RTE Irish national television. All proceeds will go to Dublin charities with whom Notre Dame students volunteer.
- CBS Sports will telecast the game live in the United States, and ESPN America will broadcast the game in 63 countries.
- There will be a huge array of events taking place around the game including four academic conferences, a public outdoor Mass at Dublin Castle, a pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, the Temple Bar Tailgate, and more.
- Notre Dame are bringing a 200 strong Marching Band, 10 cheerleaders, and the 50-person Notre Dame Folk Choir.
What you should know about Notre Dame University, Indiana, before the big game:
- Notre Dame routinely ranked among the top 20 US universities [out of 4,000].
- It has 8,000 undergrads, 3,000 post-graduate and professional students.
- It is ranked fourth in the American “dream colleges” list.
- 80% of students live in residence halls on campus.
- 80% of students volunteer during their time on campus.
- 85% of undergrad alumni donate.
- Notre Dame sends over 50% of its students overseas - among the leaders in American universities.
- The university has over 40 international programmes - of which Dublin is consistently the most popular and the most difficult to gain entry into.
13 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.johnshiel | Aug 31, 2012, 10:27 AM EDT
refresh my memory... who was that pantload that said months ago that this game didn't matter, that Americans were too broke to shell out for the trip, that tired old toads with aristocratic leanings were really the model citizens worthy of adulation and emulation... who WAS that voice?
BrendanDunphy | Aug 31, 2012, 02:19 AM EDT
Ciaradexy can learn a lot from her fellow countryman Gavin. Thank you Gavin for your post. The eternally-hostile type like Ciaradexy has unfortunately been damaging the image of beloved Eire. Angry and hostile is no way to go through life Ciara.
ciaradexy | Aug 30, 2012, 05:14 PM EDT
Yeah most of us have already had about a thousand Americans telling us that theyre Irish. They learnt pretty quickly that they are, but only in America! Here, they are American tourists.
TheNDleprechaun | Aug 29, 2012, 10:42 PM EDT
GO IRISH!
cillowen | Aug 29, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT
desperate for a thing of nothing event - having the conned spending their dimes on helmets\shirts\ of another mighty manipulating oppressor of their tooth fairy sheep.
casualMBA | Aug 28, 2012, 09:44 PM EDT
Given the valid away game difficulties underlying Coach Kelly's comment, and, given anything close to $100 Million in economic benefits from such an event, the Taoiseach Kenny might appoint, and fund, an Irish Tourism Board Commission ($94K consultants notwithstanding) of the "best and brightest" for such projects. This International Events Commission might not only offset some of difficulties the head coach cited, but also secure other NCAA Division 1 events, in several sports. For instance, a Thanksgiving Invitational Basketball Tournament - even for leading High Schools, if not the Georgetowns of the States - against young European Teams, with accompanying media and endorsers, could generate significant economic benefits. (No disrespect to the Steelers)
canadianirish | Aug 28, 2012, 09:02 PM EDT
Lovely post, Gavin. I plan to catch some of the game on CBS that afternoon. Sure wish I could be there!
Mgvsmith | Aug 28, 2012, 03:46 PM EDT
I think there is a plan to have a NFL regular season game in Dublin, just as they have at Wembley each year. The Steelers are candidates for that. The Notre Dame game shows the kind of reception American Football will get in Ireland. Brilliant! And for those who don't know, Ireland has it's own Shamrock Bowl, the current champions being the Belfast Trojans!
Murph46 | Aug 28, 2012, 03:39 PM EDT
You mean ND who doesn't want to play in Ireland!
Fitzyboy | Aug 28, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT
Nice hit for the Irish economy .. Im sure there will still b those poking fun and making jokes how we are Americans not Irish blah blah blah .. this will be a close game, Navy always plays ND tight w alot of heart, plus ND's QB situation is a mess ..
Gavin | Aug 28, 2012, 03:33 PM EDT
All that aside there will be a warm welcome for the teams and fan's here in Dublin, hope they have a great game and a great time céad míle fáilte
wilhoef | Aug 28, 2012, 01:48 PM EDT
...and Navy is going to win.
pilib04 | Aug 28, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT
100 Million.