NFL 'evaluating the interest' from teams about playing future games in Dublin
The Kansas City Chiefs opened their seasons with defeat to the LA Chargers in Sao Paolo. The Chiefs have indicated their interest in playing a future game in Ireland. Pic: Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images
The NFL says that it is "evaluating the interest" from teams to play a game in Ireland. The first regular season game to be played in Ireland takes place on Sunday at Croke Park when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Minnesota Vikings. The Kansas City Chiefs, who have played in five of the last six Super Bowls, have already made their interest public.
"The interest from clubs to play internationally keeps growing," said Gerrit Meier, managing director and head of NFL International.
"We're seeing that, and so it is always very, very interesting for us to kind of see that growing momentum. I think for this year, it was very clear that the demand to see the Steelers in market (in Ireland) would be a great, great way to kind of kick this off.
"As we go forward, we are both evaluating the interest that the clubs have, but also we are adhering to the order of events as we select clubs to play internationally.
"That goes in alternating conferences every year and rotating the clubs through to give everyone the opportunity to experience and to play international combos as a designated team. And then, of course, also as a visiting team.
"We will keep monitoring that interest, but the interest has been increasing for all these (international) locations."
Sunday's game was a rapid sell-out with more than 600,000 digital devices in the queue when tickets when on sale in June.
"That interest comes from Ireland, it comes from across Europe, it comes from a strong interest from the United States," said Meier.
Several events will be held across Dublin this week, "giving a real sense of a mini Super Bowl coming to town".
"We're going to the iconic Dublin City Castle with our NFL experience," said Meier.
"That's a free three-day fan event open from Thursday through Saturday. And then you will see city murals, light projections, and a lot of in-city activities throughout the week."
