Gridiron set to touch down at Croker

OFFICIALS on both sides of the Atlantic remain hopeful of confirming American football’s return to Dublin in two years’ time.

Navy and Notre Dame, who met in Croke Park in 1996, are due to return to the Irish capital for a regular season fixture in 2012, with the GAA’s headquarters the likely venue.

The ‘Fighting Irish’ won 54-27 in Croke Park in 1996 and the 2012 meeting is a designated ‘home’ regular season clash for Navy, whose officials have visited both Croke Park and what was at the time still a site on Lansdowne Road.

“There are still a number of details that need to be worked out before the game is finalised,” Navy’s associate athletic director for sports information, Scott Strasemeier told the Irish Examiner yesterday.

“We would like to make it work, but are still working out logistics.”

Though the fixture has not been confirmed, one US travel agency is already offering packages to Dublin which include match tickets, flights and “full Irish breakfast”.

Croke Park is believed to be the frontrunner for any repeat of what was dubbed the ‘Shamrock Classic’ in 1996, although Boston College and Army did face off at Lansdowne Road in 1988.

That tie attracted more than 42,000 to the Ballsbridge venue while just under 40,000 paid in to watch the action eight years later.

Croke Park has been actively searching for new events to fill in the gaps left by the departure of rugby and soccer back across the Liffey this year but the gridiron fixture, should it go ahead, would be a one-off.

Further events are due to be announced for Croke Park in the coming months although officials point out that it will not be possible to make up for the €14m which the GAA received from the IRFU and FAI for the use of the ground.

“It would be a great boost for tourism in the country were it to happen,” said Croke Park stadium director, Peter McKenna. “Ultimately, it would have to be approved by Central Council but I think it is an ideal fixture for the venue. But there is still a lot of preparation to be done on it before it can happen.”

College football is a multi-million dollar business in the US but a collegiate fixture does not carry the same weight on these shores as the higher-profile professional game.

Regular season NFL fixtures have been played in Wembley for the last three years and the San Francisco 49ers are set to ‘host’ the Denver Broncos at the London venue next October.

McKenna rejected the notion Ireland’s four-million population and geographic isolation would count against the NFL coming here.

“I’m not sure about that. I think we could offer something unique in terms of hospitality and don’t forget that a lot of NFL teams have very strong links to this country.

“Take the (Pittsburgh) Steelers for example. (US) Ambassador (Dan) Rooney was president there and has always had a very strong relationship with Ireland. It would be a good tie-in.”