Figures begin to capture impact of NFL's visit to Croke Park

Myles Smith performs at half-time during the NFL International match at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire. 

The economic breakdown of the first ever NFL regular-season game in Ireland is beginning to trickle in and the numbers confirm the enormous influx and impact of American fans and money into the capital for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings clash.

A crowd just north of 74,512 attended the game in Croke Park, won 24-21 by the Steelers, with 35% of ticket holders – over 26,000 people - hailing from the US, 30% from Ireland and 35% from the rest of the world.