- 14,000 Americans travelled for TCU-UNC game at Aviva Stadium
- Previous four games generated €514m for Irish economy
- ESPN and Disney+ broadcasts reach millions of US viewers
- American fans average seven nights touring across Ireland
- Tourism Ireland partners with Anthony Travel and ESPN
Tourism Ireland is set to leverage the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium, where Texas Christian University and the University of North Carolina are scheduled to play the opening fixture of the 2026 US College Football season.
Approximately 14,000 Americans have travelled to Ireland for the game, with visitors spending an average of seven nights travelling across the island. The first four such games have generated €514m for the Irish economy, according to Grant Thornton, and 2026 marks the fifth consecutive year that Ireland has hosted the opening Week Zero fixture.
The game will reach millions of viewers across the United States, airing live on ESPN and being streamed on Disney+ for the first time this year. Tourism Ireland has partnered with ESPN to highlight Ireland to this audience, with activity including footage of the island’s scenery and experiences, and on-screen callouts encouraging viewers to begin planning their visit on Ireland.com. Tourism Ireland has also been working closely with Anthony Travel, the official travel company for the college football games, and other travel partners to win new visitors through alumni associations, fan sites and targeted digital promotion.
Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, shared: “The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on Ireland in one of our most important markets. We are delighted to partner with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, to maximise the tourism benefits of this weekend’s game. Dublin has become the second home of American College Football, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans and teams and delivering significant benefit for our economy.”
“We know from previous College Football events in Dublin that American fans typically stay seven nights on average and tour extensively around our regions, contributing substantially to local tourism businesses right across the island. The game will also be broadcast live on ESPN and streamed via Disney+ to millions of people across the United States – providing a fantastic opportunity to highlight Ireland as a wonderful holiday destination, as well as a top location to host large-scale international sporting events.”
