Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II says Ireland and Mexico potential destinations if franchise play international game in 2025; Ireland has never hosted regular-season NFL game but Croke Park, in Dublin, staged 1997 American Bowl - watch NFL preseason live on Sky
Saturday 10 August 2024 14:38, UK
Dublin might host an NFL game in 2025, marking the city's first in nearly 30 years, according to Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II.
Rooney shared the possibility while speaking with the Steelers broadcast team in the commentary booth at Acrisure Stadium during the franchise' first preseason game on Friday night.
"I think there's a good chance in the 2025 season that we'll have an international game. Of course that's up to the league, not up to us. We're kind of due for that and we are expecting it could be in Mexico or Ireland," said Rooney.
The Steelers hold marketing rights for Ireland and Mexico through the NFL's Global Markets Program. Over the past year, the team has organised watch parties and youth camps in both regions.
While Ireland has never hosted a regular-season NFL game, Croke Park - which seats over 80,000 fans - was the site of the 1997 American Bowl, a preseason game between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears, which the Steelers won 30-17.
The game in 1997 is still remembered fondly in Pittsburgh, with Rooney saying: "We played a preseason game in Ireland back in the 1990s and it was a lot of fun and well received.
The Steelers last played an international game in 2013, losing 34-27 to the Minnesota Vikings at Wembley Stadium.
For Rooney, a return to Ireland would be significant for the team: "We have a lot of Steelers fans in Ireland and it would be fun to get over there again."
The new NFL campaign is just around the corner, with extended coverage from all three rounds of preseason coming up this month live on Sky Sports.
August 10 - Minnesota Vikings @ Las Vegas Raiders - live from 9pm on Sky Sports Action
August 11 - Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars - live from 12am on Sky Sports Mix
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