A new report today reveals that the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Kansas States "Wildcats" and Iowa States "Cyclones" at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last August generated a €132m economic boost for the Irish economy.
The Post-Game Economic Impact Report, compiled by Grant Thornton, was published as preparations gather pace for this year's game between Texas Christian University (TCU) and the University of North Carolina (UNC) on August 29.
Grant Thornton said a total of 47,226 spectators attended the game, with 25,999 of those international travellers. 22,910 of those visitors were from America, meaning that US visitors made up around half of those in attendance at the Aviva Stadium.
US visitors stayed for an average of 7.1 nights whereas other non-resident visitors for 2 nights, today's report shows.
It also said that the game was broadcast live on ESPN in the US and attracted a peak viewing 4.7 million - making it the most watched game of that week.
The audience for the game included large numbers from the States of Kansas and Iowa, providing a new audience to the island of Ireland, it also revealed.
Events around the game also extended far beyond the pitch, with business, academic, political, community, social and sporting events taking place throughout the week as part of the "Much More Than A Game" initiative.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the success of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic shows how important the event is in the annual tourism calendar for visitors and locals alike.
"Mixing business, leisure and sport, the event is an opportunity to build links with parts of the United States that Ireland may not have had the opportunity to do otherwise, as well as providing a great spectacle for the thousands who can go to the Aviva Stadium and the millions watching on television," he said.
"The recent establishment of the 'Much More Than A Game' committee co-chaired by an Assistant Secretary General in my Department is an important development in building the profile of the event and deepening the economic and cultural ties that develop from it," he added.
Caroline Bocquel, CEO of Failte Ireland, said that tourism is one of Ireland's most powerful economic engines, and events of this scale show just how significant that impact can be.
"The Aer Lingus College Football Classic continues to deliver exceptional value for Ireland, attracting tens of thousands of international visitors and generating major national and regional economic benefits," she said.
"Ireland has a unique ability to host world‑class events and festivals that combine our hospitality and unrivalled atmosphere, and this game has become a standout example of that offering. The global broadcast reach also showcases Ireland at its very best to millions of potential future travellers," she added.
Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, said the game plays an important role in fostering deep connections with North America through sport, culture and education.
"The 2025 game once again brought an exceptional boost to the Irish economy, with more than 22,000 visitors travelling from the US to see the game. Aer Lingus, as the Irish flag carrier, is proud to fly the teams as well as so many of their supporters to Ireland," she said.
"We are looking forward to another successful game in 2026 as we welcome TCU and North Carolina to Dublin, the European home of college football," she added.
Padraic O'Kane, CEO of EHL Experiences and co-founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, said that Ireland and Dublin's role as a key destination in the US College Football calendar continues to grow, and this report once again underlines the positive impact these games have for the city and the wider economy.
"We are encouraged by the strong interest from several top-tier College Football programmes who are keen to play in Dublin in the years ahead," he said.
"With fixtures of this scale planned well in advance, it is a testament to the collaborative approach between all partners including the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Aer Lingus, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Dublin City Council that we can continue building on this success year after year," he added.
