24,000 travelling fans expected for Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium
A general view of play during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic game between Florida State and Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium in 2024. File picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty
This month, Ireland welcomes back the Aer Lingus College Football Classic - the first US college football game of the 2025 season - and with that a draw of 24,000 travelling international fans.
The highly anticipated clash will see Kansas State University’s ‘Wildcats’ and Iowa State University’s ‘Cyclones’ take each other on at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 23 at 5pm (Irish Time).
The game marks a historic moment as the first-ever Big 12 Conference matchup to grace Irish soil and is being billed as the 'most competitive' American College Football game ever to be played outside the US.
The day will involve planned tailgating events and pep rallies in Merrion Square aswell as a band march from the RDS to the Aviva Stadium. A spectator flyover by an Aer Lingus aircraft is also planned over the Aviva Stadium before the game kicks off.
The Classic has consistently boosted Ireland’s economy and this year’s game will be no different. The event is projected to generate over €130 million for the local Irish economy.
