Steelers in Ireland | Pittsburgh Steelers - Steelers.com
Steelers Roots in Ireland
The Rooney family emigrated from the town of Newry in Northern Ireland to the United States in the 19th century, where the family ultimately settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Dan Rooney joined forces with Pittsburgh businessman Anthony J.F. O'Reilly to create The Ireland Fund in 1976, which merged with the American Irish Foundation to create the American Ireland Funds, a leading charitable organization benefiting Ireland.
Dan Rooney's love of Ireland also fueled a passion to bring an NFL game to Ireland, a that dream became a reality when the Steelers took on the Chicago Bears in a preseason game in 1997 at Croke Park.
Dan Rooney was asked to serve as United States Ambassador to Ireland by President Barack Obama, a role he cherished from 2009-2012.
While in Ireland serving as Ambassador, Rooney visited all 32 counties on the island, meeting with politicians, media, business leaders and citizens.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were awarded rights to expand their brand and activities for the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland, as part of the NFL's 'Global Markets Program', on May 23, 2023.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted their first-ever Watch Party at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, during Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Croke Park
Croke Park is one of the largest stadiums in Europe, with a capacity of 82,300 and can accommodate all types of events - from field sports to concerts, meetings to tradeshows and bespoke banqueting, even the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game in 1997 and now a regular season game in 2025.
Official Steelers Ireland Packages
Want to be part of the action? Priority Access is currently SOLD OUT. Be sure to sign up to join the waitlist and be notified of future deposit and package offerings. Packages can include premium seat locations, fan parties, guided tours of Ireland's iconic landmarks, and roundtrip airfare with accommodations.
Content & Coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
Game in Ireland
How does the NFL select a team to play in an international game and why were the Steelers selected?
Starting in 2025, the NFL has the right to schedule up to 8 regular season international games per season. Up to 4 teams from the conference hosting a ninth regular season home game are now designated to play a neutral-site international game each year. In 2025, AFC teams will have a ninth home game on their schedule.
Teams are selected based on the league's rotational system, which considers conference scheduling and teams that have Global Market Program rights in specific markets.
The NFL has earmarked Dublin as a new international game market for 2025 and strategically selected the Steelers to play in the game as the designated team.
As part of the Global Markets Program the Steelers have been awarded marketing rights on the island of Ireland because of Steelers' ownership family's deep roots there.
What is the NFL’s strategy behind hosting international games?
Global growth is a major strategic priority for the league and 32 teams.
Playing games outside the United States and expanding the league's global footprint is a key part of that strategy.
The league's international games take American football to new fans and communities around the world.
Has the NFL ever played a regular season game in Ireland?
- No, this will be the first time the NFL hosts a regular season home game in Ireland. The Steelers played the Chicago Bears in a preseason game at Dublin's Croke Park in 1997, still the only NFL game ever played there.
How does this affect the number of home games the Steelers play this season?
The Steelers will host 8 regular-season home games and 1 preseason home game at Acrisure Stadium in 2025.
As this is a year in which AFC teams have a ninth regular season home game, the Dublin game will see the Steelers' designated to play the ninth game in Dublin in 2025.
When will the visiting team and date for the game be announced?
- The opponent, game date, and additional game details will be confirmed by the NFL this spring.
Will there be fan events or activities in Dublin?
The Steelers and the NFL will host fan activities in Dublin leading up to the game. More information on these details will be released later this year. We encourage you to sign up for Steelers emails and to follow the Steelers social media platforms for information and updates on the events that the Steelers will host in Ireland.
Fans interested in hearing more about news relating to the game and other NFL events that will take place in Dublin can sign up for information at www.nfl.com/dublin.
Ticketing
When will tickets go on sale for the 2025 NFL Dublin Game?
- General admission tickets will go on sale later this year after the announcement of the game date and opponent for the Steelers – the date and time for this sale are TBD at this time.
How can I purchase tickets for the Dublin Game?
While priority access is currently sold out, fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2025 Dublin Game can join the wait list via On Location, the NFL's Official Hospitality Partner. Click here to learn more.
An allotment of tickets has also been designated exclusively for purchase by season ticket holders and will be offered via lottery. Season ticket holders interested in enrolling in this exclusive ticket lottery can sign up via their Steelers Account Manager. Deadline to enter is May 1, 2025.
Are there ticket packages that include travel accommodations?
- Travel packages, including flights, hotel stays, and game tickets, are currently sold out but fans can join the wait list via On Location, the NFL's Official Hospitality Partner. Click here and then click the "Join the Waitlist" button in the "Official Steelers Travel Packages" section.
Are there any restrictions or special rules for fans attending the game in another country?
- Fans are encouraged to review local regulations, including stadium policies and travel requirements, before attending. Specific guidelines will be shared by the NFL closer to the game.
What time will the game air in the U.S., and how can I watch it?
- The game will be broadcast live, with kick-off times adjusted for U.S. time zones. Details on the broadcast schedule will be shared with the league's schedule announcement later this spring.
I’m a season ticket holder; does this affect my season ticket package?
Your season ticket package will consist of 9 home games played at Acrisure Stadium, including 1 preseason and 8 regular season games. In 2021, the NFL expanded the regular season to 17 games, resulting in an alternating home game schedule of 8 or 9 regular season home games. This also includes a requirement that teams play at least 1 international game on a rotating basis, of which the Steelers were designated to play this season. Season ticket holders with additional questions are encouraged to visit their Steelers Account Manager or contact us.
Season ticket holders interested in attending the Dublin game are encouraged to visit their Steelers Account Manager for more information, including details on how to enroll in an exclusive season ticket holder ticket lottery.
About the Steelers, Ireland & the NFL's 'Global Markets Program'
What is the NFL’s ‘Global Markets Program’?
The 'Global Markets Program', which launched in January 2022 as the International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA), grants NFL clubs access to international markets for marketing, fan engagement and commercialization activations as part of an important, long-term strategic effort to enable clubs to build their brands globally while driving NFL fan growth beyond the US.
NFL clubs can apply for rights to selected international markets by submitting proposals for the International Committee to review each Spring. Clubs are awarded rights for at least a five-year term through the program. During this period, a club has the rights to pursue activities in that international market that are consistent with what they can do in their home market.
Why did the Steelers apply for a ‘Global Markets Programs’ license in Ireland?
There are a number of reasons why the Steelers decided to make this initiative across the Island of Ireland a priority. The Rooney family emigrated from Ireland in the 1840s and their Irish roots have remained important to them. Current Steelers President Art Rooney II became the first member of the Rooney Family to visit Northern Ireland since the family emigrated in 1840 when he visited there in the early 1970s. Former Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney and his wife, Patricia, spent a great deal of their time giving back to Ireland and worked hard to help make it a better place, whether that be through establishing The Ireland Funds or his work as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. He also drove the decision to play an NFL game in Ireland in 1997. Mrs. Patricia Rooney, whose family emigrated from County Mayo in the 1920s, was a guiding force in the establishment of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.
When the NFL created the opportunity for all teams to become active in international markets, Ireland was on the team's short list. This license will enable the Steelers to bring back some of the traditions and initiatives instituted by Dan Rooney, as well as to bring some new ones forward.
What does this mean for Ireland?
The NFL's 'Global Markets Program' allows the Steelers to be active across the island of Ireland. Over the coming year, the Steelers plan to re-launch an initiative started by Dan Rooney years ago, flag football. Flag is a part of the team's overall international strategy and is easy to play for young people of all ages. The Steelers also plan to enact other events, including watch parties and other football education experiences.
The team is roughly two years into its NFL's 'Global Markets Program' in Mexico, and in that time, has held several in-market draft celebrations, a kicking clinic for both professional football players as well as young people, a pair of youth flag events, a large-scale watch party in Mexico City, as well as a business summit with members of the business community. We'll look to bring similar initiatives to Ireland; and plan to be thoughtful and intentional about how they are introduced.
Will the Steelers bring players to Ireland?
- The Steelers plan is to host events and activities in Ireland that will engage fans and current and former players are a part of that strategy.
The Irish Steelers Podcast
The official Pittsburgh Steelers Irish podcast – emanating from the island of Ireland.
