There's been plenty of talk of tariff Armageddon hitting the Irish-American relationship.
But this week in Dublin it’s the turn of ‘Farmageddon’ to show just how strong those ties still are.
That’s the name fans of the Kansas State Wildcats and the Iowa State Cyclones give to their college football rivalry. And this week the rivalry comes to the Aviva Stadium for ‘Week Zero’ of the US college football season. Over 24,000 international fans will be here for the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic which kicks off at 5pm on Saturday.
It’s one of the great displays of Irish “soft power” that is keeping the green flag flying in these difficult times in the US. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic sells itself on its slogan of #MuchMoreThanAGame .
It really represents a week-long celebration of transatlantic connections, encompassing business, cultural, political and community events.
Since Wednesday a comprehensive schedule of activities and events has been unfolding across the city, offering a unique and diverse range of entertainment for visiting fans and locals alike. Here will be mini fleadhs, marching bands and fashion days out in Kildare Village.
This year’s game is projected to generate over €130 million for the local Irish economy, driven primarily by the travelling U.S. visitors expected to attend the game. Combined with the previous three games already hosted in Ireland, delivering an economic boost of €382m as per the Grant Thornton Economic Impact Reports, these initial four games in the series are now set to contribute over €512m.
As title sponsor, the national airline Aer Lingus also plays a pivotal role in the event's success.
The airline is responsible for flying both the Kansas State University and Iowa State University teams, their coaching staff, and delegations to Dublin on specially chartered flights this week.
Both teams are travelling with 125 members of their cheer squad and bands, adding to the celebratory atmosphere in Dublin this week.
The excitement extends beyond the Aviva Stadium. Key events for fans include the high-energy Pep Rallies for both universities.
‘Tailgating’ pubs, sponsored by Guinness and Teeling Whiskey, will be active all week, including iconic Dublin pubs such as The Old Store House and Dame Tavern.
The Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) high school games take place in Energia Park on Friday, August 22nd. This year's GIFT will feature a compelling double-header: New Jersey’s ‘The Hun School’ will face the NFL Academy UK, followed by a match-up between Pennsylvania’s ‘The Kiski School’ and the U19 ‘Irish Wolfhounds’.
Further reinforcing the event's wider impact, the week will feature numerous events designed to strengthen Irish-U.S. ties, including agricultural, and political events and meetups as well as high-level business networking functions, and academic symposiums.
Spectators attending the game are encouraged to be in their seats by 4:15 PM to enjoy the full pre-game spectacle and atmosphere that the teams and organisers will bring to the Aviva Stadium.
A new addition to this year’s event will see the debut of ‘Celtic The Brave’ the official mascot of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. A full schedule of events can be found on the Official Game Week App.
“We are thrilled to once again showcase the very best of college football here in Dublin," said Padraic O’Kane, Director and Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. “The passion and excitement that this event generates is truly remarkable, and we are delighted to welcome fans from all over the world to experience the unique atmosphere of a game day in Ireland.’
For those still wishing to be part the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic game experience, a limited number of tickets are available for purchase via https://www.ticketmaster.ie/collegefootball