Steelers ‘Would Love’ to Play a Game in Ireland, Dan Rooney Says
The Pittsburgh Steelers 'would love' to play a game in Ireland, Steelers director of business development and strategy Dan Rooney says.
The Pittsburgh Steelers organization ‘would love’ to play a game in Ireland, the team’s director of business development and strategy, Dan Rooney, told BBC Sports. That comes after feasibility studies were being done across the country to see which places could be next for NFL games, including Ireland.
“We’re awaiting some of their findings and we have told them we would love to get to the island to play a game someday. It’s an exciting future ahead. It would be special no matter where we played it. Croke Park hosted it in 1997 and that is a special venue, but that’s really in the hands of the NFL,” Rooney said.
Team president Art Rooney II stated at the NFL Owner’s Meetings in March that the Steelers would push for a game in Ireland. One of the cities being explored is Dublin. The last time the Steelers played in Ireland was in 1997 for a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, but this game would likely be a regular-season game.
The two stadiums the NFL plans to study are Croke Park and Aviva Stadium. Aviva Stadium has hosted numerous college football games, while Croke Park hosted that meeting between the Steelers and Bears. The Steelers want to be that team to play in Ireland, and it could happen as early as next year with Pittsbrugh having nine home games. They have not played internationally since 2013, when they played the Minnesota Vikings in London.
“It’s been a goal from the start, being able to pursue an opportunity to play a live game in front of the Irish fans,” Rooney said. “We are working with the NFL on that, and we’re looking forward to seeing what’s coming.”
Pittsburgh has international marketing rights in Mexico, Ireland, and Germany. It stands that they will play games in all of those places at some point in the future. However, which one comes first is anyone’s best guess, though Mexico would be the favorite if renovations to Estadio Azteca are wrapped up to play there in 2025.
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