March 4, 2025 • 17 mins
Michael is joined this week by NFL UK & Ireland General Manager Henry Hodgson on the steps to a Steelers Dublin game and his thoughts on the landmark moment for the team.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Irish Airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated by the
(00:21):
airline from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers
fans traveling to Ireland for the Big Game can enjoy
a relaxing journey when they fly with air Lingus. Air Lingus,
You're very welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Hi, everybody, welcome into the Irish Steeers podcast as we
are a novel weekend to this offseason. You're very very welcome,
folks represented by aer Lingus. Irish Airline. Aerlingus has just
announced plans to become an official airline partner of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. As a founding partner of Steelers Ireland, Aerlingus
will be welcoming the Steelers and all the Steelers Nation
(01:01):
the Dublin this autumn for what's said to be a
fantastic NFL showdown For listeners outside of Ireland. You can
book your flight to Dublin now at erlingus dot com
to make sure you don't miss out on any of
the action. Well, today on the Irish Theaters Podcast, we
have a fantastic guest. We have one of the main
figures of the NFL in Ireland and the UK. We
(01:23):
have got the NFL UK and Ireland GM Henry Hodgson
joining us on the Irish Theaters Podcast. Okay, so our
guest today on the Irish Theaters Podcast is none other
than the General Manager of the NFL UK and Ireland,
Henry Hodgson. Henry, a warm welcome to the podcast, Falsa,
as we say, you're very very welcome. How you do.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
I am doing great, Thank you, It's great to be
with you. Big fan of the podcast. I'm but excited
to join you today as well.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's funny, Henry. We set out now just around a
month or so when we find out the news of
the Steelers playing their first ever regular season home game
or designated game in Ireland and this year, it's an
exciting moment, not just for Steelers fans that are listening
to this podcast, but for the NFL across the island
of Ireland and in the UK as well.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yeah, of course it is.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
I mean, this is the culmination of work that's been
going on for the last few months, I suppose in
real haste, but I guess really since the day that
the Steelers launched the GMP.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Program in Ireland a.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Couple of years ago now, and I think we're all
incredibly excited about the prospect of bringing an NFL game
to Dublin, an NFL regular season game for the very
first time. And I know that the Steelers especially have
been excited about that really from the day that they
set foot at Croke Park in twenty nineteen or sorry,
(02:45):
twenty twenty one to announce the program.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
How have you found the response just over the last
few weeks, because I think from me and for a
lot of people sort of around the game, it's definitely
reached a different level. But I thought the response has
been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I think it's been fantastic, but I don't think it's
any it's been any more fantastic than I'd expected it
to be. Knowing the passion of the Irish fans and
the passion of Steelers fans. You know, I think everything
that we've seen sort of underscores the reason that we
wanted to come to Ireland in the first place to
play a regular season game. That we knew that there's
a big, passionate fan base. We knew that it'd be
(03:21):
very well received in Ireland and embraced, you know, across
Ireland by sports fans there, and we knew that there
be excitement I think, you know from the US as well,
from Steelers fans, Steelers Nation in America and across the
globe about the prospect of the Steelers playing in Dublin,
which is obviously in Ireland, which is the ancestral home.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Of the Rooneys.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
So it all, it all makes so much sense that, yes,
that the reaction has been has been fantastic, but also
sort of somewhat expected.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
You talk about that day in the Holgen, Sweeden core
Park when they announced the start of the GMPP program.
Impressed have you been with the efforts from from Nan tonight,
because it seems to have just taken the gear up
every just every few months as well, Henry, just with
different things going on.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I think you're right, and you know, honestly, we saw
it even before that day when when we first started
talking to the Steelers about the prospect of this happening
and of them being part of the Global Markets program.
You know, from from the very beginning, I think more
than probably any team that I've worked with in that program,
they had a very very clear vision for why Ireland
(04:32):
was important.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
You know, I think it's obviously.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
With some other clubs, you know, you look at the
sort of the why behind it, and it certainly doesn't
have the depth of the roots that that the Rooney
family and the Steelers have in the market. So I
think that that authenticity of what they're doing and why
they're doing and how they go about it has been
evident really from even before they were part of the program.
(04:59):
But you know, really from then onwards, I've been incredibly
impressed by how meticulous they've been about growing their audience
in Ireland. You know, the different sort of leavers they've
pulled to do that, whether it's you know, supporting sort
of some of the grassroots and flag football or football
development programs, whether it's the watch parties that they've delivered
(05:20):
in the market, whether it's you know, this kind of
thing that the podcast and the other content that they're
producing to engage fans locally, whether it's the player trips
that they bringing players into market, some of their commercial
efforts as well. I think everything has been sort of
you know, the stepping stones you would, I suppose, users
a blueprint for any team going into any market, but
(05:41):
all with that deep rooted you know family in Ireland
that kind of knitted all together.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
While the Staters have always said from the start of
our process that there eventually aim is to hopefully play
a game on the island of Ireland, I think the
news team as a welcome surprise for so so many people.
Last month Henry talked to us about the process for
you guys and how that game was planned and confirmed.
Was it a long process or how did you find
it just down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I think it was again a process that probably started with,
you know, the momentum began with the Steelers committing as
a global markets program team in Ireland.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think it was probably a happy coincidence that at
the you know, probably I guess twelve eighteen months into
that time, from an NFL international standpoint, our strategy has
evolved to play more games internationally and so there was
a moment where we were going from a limited number
of game inventory to to significantly more. You know, that's
(06:46):
grown this year obviously to seven games plus plus the
Jags game, and you know the intent is to continue
growing that. So I think that was a good coincidence
that those things happen at the same time.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
And then I think when we came and.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
When I say we, I mean sort of our operational team,
when we came to Dublin and looked at the two
stadium options that we had, it was very clear that,
you know, unlike perhaps some other markets that we look at,
there were very very sort of turnkey solutions to playing
American football games in Dublin, in both Croak Park obviously,
(07:22):
which is that the venue we've landed on, but also
the Aviva, which was you know it has has hosted
college football games and is it a great facility itself.
So I think, you know, all of those things, plus
then once we had sort of identified that the support
that we began to receive from the Irish government, from
Dublin City Council, from lots of really important stakeholders that
(07:44):
would that would lead us to play a game there,
I think all of all of that momentum kind of
you know, became irresistible if you like, and so playing
actually kind of signing off on it and saying, yes,
we're going to go ahead and do this. Once we
had the stadium select, once we had the support of
those stakeholders I mentioned, and obviously with an incredibly strong
(08:06):
push from the Steelers who clearly wanted to do this,
it sort of it grew legs and a life of
its own, and obviously we were delighted to be able
to confirm it.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You mentioned there a little bit about Krook Park, and
for people listening to this podcast aren't aware, the me
and GA season ends at the end of July or
early August, depending on how it finishes up. So it's
an interesting situation, Henry, because you're looking at the stadium
there where the field is going to be in fantastic condition,
because there's going to be a bit of time for
it to really settle there as well. But you mentioned
(08:39):
a bit of a Krook Park. How impressed were you
when you first went in for the first time with
that meeting, because for a lot of people on the
Island of Ireland, it's like we call it the Mecca.
It's like the sporting capital of the whole thing for us,
you know.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
I mean, look, I was I'm old enough to have
been around the NFL, albeit not in the role I
mean now in when when the Steelers played a preseason
game there, and I remember some of my colleagues coming
back from from being part of that event and talking
about what an incredible stadium it was. So for me
to go there the first time I did, which was
(09:14):
when the Steelers launched in the market, and finally see
this stadium that I had, the legendary stadium that i'd
heard about. It lived up to everything then and it
and it has done ever since as well. And I think,
you know, the that that I suppose, that feeling that
I had, I think was shared by, as I mentioned earlier,
the sort of operational team who went in there and
(09:35):
had a look at the stadium from a sort of
you know, field feasibility, locker room feasibility, but also just
so general kind of you know, is this the right
place for for an NFL game to come to? And
I think everybody left going wow, this is a fantastic venue,
a historic venue, and one that will be just you know,
a really great one for for an NFL game to
(09:56):
be played at. So, you know, I think there are
there are many converted fans of Croke Park within the NFL,
and I would expect that to only increase by eighty
thousand or so when we first play a game there
in a few months time.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Does it excite you that while it's in the UK
and Ireland scope, it's almost a new plan, different stadium
like And I have to ask this on behalf of
not just theaters fans, but NFL fans in Ireland listening
and just sort of your thoughts, your ideas in terms
of I know it's early, but Dublin itself is such
a central city, Henry the fact that you can walk
(10:34):
from Croke Park to the city center at fifteen minutes,
there must be so many opportunities for the Caelers, for
the league for fan engagement on this day when it
comes they're on in the air.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Yeah, there really are.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I mean I think we you know, I think it
starts probably from now, not just the day of the game,
not just the week of the game, but from from
this point onwards with opportunities for us to show up
in the market and that's not just Dublin, that's across
all of our island. I think we want it to
be seen to engage as much as we possibly can
(11:05):
do across Ireland as a whole. And I know that
that's an ambition of the Steelers too. But when it
comes to game week, I think we have a bit
of a playbook for you know, how you show.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Up in a city.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
From my perspective, and maybe I'm being very selfish here,
but I think I can speak a little bit for
our sort of entire fan events team. That's that you know,
has delivered games in Germany and the UK, and you know,
in some cases.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Mexico and Brazil as well.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I think what I'm most excited about, quite honestly, is
is Dublin's ability to make, you know, for a for
a short period of time, make an event the hero
sort of thing that's happening in the city because of
the size of the city and and I suppose how
condensed its center is. I've been able to see that
(11:53):
a couple of times when I've come to the incredible
college football game there, and you know, I just I
can't couldn't get past the idea of of sort of
that the center of the city being taken over by
NFL fans, by Steelers fans. That gives me goosebumps even
now talking about it. You know what that's going to
(12:15):
be like when when we play that game this season. So,
you know, I think that that's that's really exciting, and
I have every I have every confidence that the event
will be an unforgettable one, not just game day, but
but sort of everything around it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And for people listening NFL dot Com slash Dublin, I'm
not going to ask you that question, Henry, but for
people listening, obviously there's a lot of excitement you can imagine,
not just on podcasts, but people in the street, people
text and everyone's bossing. But this it's obviously a very
exciting year ahead. Is there a timeline or sort of
you know, when we should be able to hear some
more information or is it very much sort of a
(12:53):
wait and see.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
I would certainly not very much wait and see. That
sounds like we're keeping secrets from you. We don't know
the answer to some of the questions that you all
would like answers to today as well. So I think that's,
you know, that's really what we need to get to
that point where we can have the answers, so that
we can give the answers. As you know, and I
think as hopefully as fans are sort of broadly aware,
(13:16):
Typically the NFL schedule is released after the draft. I
think last year it was kind of the second week
of May. I would expect the same thing to happen
this year. The International Games again have been announced as
part of that. Sometimes it's the day of, but obviously
at a more convenient time zone for international fans. I
(13:36):
think it's been as much as sort of four or
five days ahead of schedule release to kind of bread
crumb the way to the to the main schedule release.
I can't tell you what the plan is this year,
and you know in part that because the schedule is
a complicated beast that take us and come together. And
while you know, we know for a fact that there
will be a game in Dublin and it will include
(13:59):
the Steelers, and we know that the Steelers have a
nine teams on their schedule this year, and we know
that some of those teams are playing internationally already, so
they probably aren't going to be playing in Dublin. That's
really as sort of as far as the puzzle goes,
and I'm sure that you and lots of Steelers fans
and lots of NFL fans in general have put those
pieces together already, so we're all in the same place.
(14:21):
But you know we I'd expect that we'll be able
to make the announcement around a date and around an
opponent at around sort of the early to mid May time.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah, and look that that's awesome. I think for a
lot of people listening, it just means a lot. There's
that there's a game happening here. In the first list,
I think everyone's just delighted. To be honest with you,
just finally, Henry from yourself. You know, we've seen over
way past the last decade, but we've seen a real
legacy out of these London games, like a lot more
things taking place. The Ring of Honor took place last year. Look,
(14:55):
we're flowing a coin way down the path here, but
do you see the idea of this are stubblinging and
you just sort of add into the legacy of what
the NFL is doing and will hopefully continue to do
in the ukn ART and the long end of the future.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Yeah. Absolutely, Look, I mean It's funny.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
I just came off another call with someone else and
we were talking about exactly that. You know, we've we've
been playing games in London since two thousand and seven,
but I wouldn't say we're anywhere near where we want
to get to and where we expect that we can
get to in the UK with relation to those games.
We're at the start of a journey in Ireland in
(15:31):
terms of playing games, but I think also in terms
of sort of implementing some of the other programs that
we have done in the UK, whether it's flag football,
which is you know, incredibly important to us, I think
as a means of growing participation in the sport and
therefore fandom. In terms of you know, identifying a media
partner that can really get behind the sport and you know,
(15:51):
bring it to the masses through TV, which I think
is also something that we would love to be able
to do in ourland. Finding the right commercial partners that
we can grow with and alongside in the market is
really important. You know, there are a number of things
that you know, when you look at the blueprint of
how do you grow this and how do you make
(16:12):
sure that this isn't seen as a traveling circus, right,
We're not just putting up a tent and then coming back,
you know, at no point in the future. We want
this to be the start of that, the catalyst, the
springboard to to you know, real growth for the NFL
and the market, real growth for the Steelers brand in
the market, so that you know, for we're stronger after
(16:33):
this game and we can continue growing for years afterwards.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
That's the plan. That's what we're trying to get done here.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
But obviously in the meantime we're also very focused on
making sure that Game one and that this event is
as good as it possibly can be. We're trying to
deliver a mini super Bowl to Dublin. That's the plan,
and you know that's what we're we're looking to execute.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
That is a signdbite for this podcast and the air
series podcast Henry a minie super Bowl. I love it
NFL dot Com. Last doubling for every Steeers fan, for
every NFL fan listening, Henry, have no doubt. Well chat
as sums stage again very soon in this podcast. But
day Grimy Margat, thank you very much for lying on.
I'll chet you soon.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Irish airline air Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated by the
(17:36):
airline from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers
fans traveling to Ireland for the Big Game can enjoy
a relaxing journey when they fly with air Lingus. Air Lingus,
You're very welcome.
Irish Airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated by the
(00:21):
airline from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers
fans traveling to Ireland for the Big Game can enjoy
a relaxing journey when they fly with air Lingus. Air Lingus,
You're very welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Hi, everybody, welcome into the Irish Steeers podcast as we
are a novel weekend to this offseason. You're very very welcome,
folks represented by aer Lingus. Irish Airline. Aerlingus has just
announced plans to become an official airline partner of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. As a founding partner of Steelers Ireland, Aerlingus
will be welcoming the Steelers and all the Steelers Nation
(01:01):
the Dublin this autumn for what's said to be a
fantastic NFL showdown For listeners outside of Ireland. You can
book your flight to Dublin now at erlingus dot com
to make sure you don't miss out on any of
the action. Well, today on the Irish Theaters Podcast, we
have a fantastic guest. We have one of the main
figures of the NFL in Ireland and the UK. We
(01:23):
have got the NFL UK and Ireland GM Henry Hodgson
joining us on the Irish Theaters Podcast. Okay, so our
guest today on the Irish Theaters Podcast is none other
than the General Manager of the NFL UK and Ireland,
Henry Hodgson. Henry, a warm welcome to the podcast, Falsa,
as we say, you're very very welcome. How you do.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
I am doing great, Thank you, It's great to be
with you. Big fan of the podcast. I'm but excited
to join you today as well.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's funny, Henry. We set out now just around a
month or so when we find out the news of
the Steelers playing their first ever regular season home game
or designated game in Ireland and this year, it's an
exciting moment, not just for Steelers fans that are listening
to this podcast, but for the NFL across the island
of Ireland and in the UK as well.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yeah, of course it is.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
I mean, this is the culmination of work that's been
going on for the last few months, I suppose in
real haste, but I guess really since the day that
the Steelers launched the GMP.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Program in Ireland a.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Couple of years ago now, and I think we're all
incredibly excited about the prospect of bringing an NFL game
to Dublin, an NFL regular season game for the very
first time. And I know that the Steelers especially have
been excited about that really from the day that they
set foot at Croke Park in twenty nineteen or sorry,
(02:45):
twenty twenty one to announce the program.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
How have you found the response just over the last
few weeks, because I think from me and for a
lot of people sort of around the game, it's definitely
reached a different level. But I thought the response has
been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I think it's been fantastic, but I don't think it's
any it's been any more fantastic than I'd expected it
to be. Knowing the passion of the Irish fans and
the passion of Steelers fans. You know, I think everything
that we've seen sort of underscores the reason that we
wanted to come to Ireland in the first place to
play a regular season game. That we knew that there's
a big, passionate fan base. We knew that it'd be
(03:21):
very well received in Ireland and embraced, you know, across
Ireland by sports fans there, and we knew that there
be excitement I think, you know from the US as well,
from Steelers fans, Steelers Nation in America and across the
globe about the prospect of the Steelers playing in Dublin,
which is obviously in Ireland, which is the ancestral home.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Of the Rooneys.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
So it all, it all makes so much sense that, yes,
that the reaction has been has been fantastic, but also
sort of somewhat expected.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
You talk about that day in the Holgen, Sweeden core
Park when they announced the start of the GMPP program.
Impressed have you been with the efforts from from Nan tonight,
because it seems to have just taken the gear up
every just every few months as well, Henry, just with
different things going on.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I think you're right, and you know, honestly, we saw
it even before that day when when we first started
talking to the Steelers about the prospect of this happening
and of them being part of the Global Markets program.
You know, from from the very beginning, I think more
than probably any team that I've worked with in that program,
they had a very very clear vision for why Ireland
(04:32):
was important.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
You know, I think it's obviously.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
With some other clubs, you know, you look at the
sort of the why behind it, and it certainly doesn't
have the depth of the roots that that the Rooney
family and the Steelers have in the market. So I
think that that authenticity of what they're doing and why
they're doing and how they go about it has been
evident really from even before they were part of the program.
(04:59):
But you know, really from then onwards, I've been incredibly
impressed by how meticulous they've been about growing their audience
in Ireland. You know, the different sort of leavers they've
pulled to do that, whether it's you know, supporting sort
of some of the grassroots and flag football or football
development programs, whether it's the watch parties that they've delivered
(05:20):
in the market, whether it's you know, this kind of
thing that the podcast and the other content that they're
producing to engage fans locally, whether it's the player trips
that they bringing players into market, some of their commercial
efforts as well. I think everything has been sort of
you know, the stepping stones you would, I suppose, users
a blueprint for any team going into any market, but
(05:41):
all with that deep rooted you know family in Ireland
that kind of knitted all together.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
While the Staters have always said from the start of
our process that there eventually aim is to hopefully play
a game on the island of Ireland, I think the
news team as a welcome surprise for so so many people.
Last month Henry talked to us about the process for
you guys and how that game was planned and confirmed.
Was it a long process or how did you find
it just down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I think it was again a process that probably started with,
you know, the momentum began with the Steelers committing as
a global markets program team in Ireland.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think it was probably a happy coincidence that at
the you know, probably I guess twelve eighteen months into
that time, from an NFL international standpoint, our strategy has
evolved to play more games internationally and so there was
a moment where we were going from a limited number
of game inventory to to significantly more. You know, that's
(06:46):
grown this year obviously to seven games plus plus the
Jags game, and you know the intent is to continue
growing that. So I think that was a good coincidence
that those things happen at the same time.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
And then I think when we came and.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
When I say we, I mean sort of our operational team,
when we came to Dublin and looked at the two
stadium options that we had, it was very clear that,
you know, unlike perhaps some other markets that we look at,
there were very very sort of turnkey solutions to playing
American football games in Dublin, in both Croak Park obviously,
(07:22):
which is that the venue we've landed on, but also
the Aviva, which was you know it has has hosted
college football games and is it a great facility itself.
So I think, you know, all of those things, plus
then once we had sort of identified that the support
that we began to receive from the Irish government, from
Dublin City Council, from lots of really important stakeholders that
(07:44):
would that would lead us to play a game there,
I think all of all of that momentum kind of
you know, became irresistible if you like, and so playing
actually kind of signing off on it and saying, yes,
we're going to go ahead and do this. Once we
had the stadium select, once we had the support of
those stakeholders I mentioned, and obviously with an incredibly strong
(08:06):
push from the Steelers who clearly wanted to do this,
it sort of it grew legs and a life of
its own, and obviously we were delighted to be able
to confirm it.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You mentioned there a little bit about Krook Park, and
for people listening to this podcast aren't aware, the me
and GA season ends at the end of July or
early August, depending on how it finishes up. So it's
an interesting situation, Henry, because you're looking at the stadium
there where the field is going to be in fantastic condition,
because there's going to be a bit of time for
it to really settle there as well. But you mentioned
(08:39):
a bit of a Krook Park. How impressed were you
when you first went in for the first time with
that meeting, because for a lot of people on the
Island of Ireland, it's like we call it the Mecca.
It's like the sporting capital of the whole thing for us,
you know.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
I mean, look, I was I'm old enough to have
been around the NFL, albeit not in the role I
mean now in when when the Steelers played a preseason
game there, and I remember some of my colleagues coming
back from from being part of that event and talking
about what an incredible stadium it was. So for me
to go there the first time I did, which was
(09:14):
when the Steelers launched in the market, and finally see
this stadium that I had, the legendary stadium that i'd
heard about. It lived up to everything then and it
and it has done ever since as well. And I think,
you know, the that that I suppose, that feeling that
I had, I think was shared by, as I mentioned earlier,
the sort of operational team who went in there and
(09:35):
had a look at the stadium from a sort of
you know, field feasibility, locker room feasibility, but also just
so general kind of you know, is this the right
place for for an NFL game to come to? And
I think everybody left going wow, this is a fantastic venue,
a historic venue, and one that will be just you know,
a really great one for for an NFL game to
(09:56):
be played at. So, you know, I think there are
there are many converted fans of Croke Park within the NFL,
and I would expect that to only increase by eighty
thousand or so when we first play a game there
in a few months time.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Does it excite you that while it's in the UK
and Ireland scope, it's almost a new plan, different stadium
like And I have to ask this on behalf of
not just theaters fans, but NFL fans in Ireland listening
and just sort of your thoughts, your ideas in terms
of I know it's early, but Dublin itself is such
a central city, Henry the fact that you can walk
(10:34):
from Croke Park to the city center at fifteen minutes,
there must be so many opportunities for the Caelers, for
the league for fan engagement on this day when it
comes they're on in the air.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Yeah, there really are.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I mean I think we you know, I think it
starts probably from now, not just the day of the game,
not just the week of the game, but from from
this point onwards with opportunities for us to show up
in the market and that's not just Dublin, that's across
all of our island. I think we want it to
be seen to engage as much as we possibly can
(11:05):
do across Ireland as a whole. And I know that
that's an ambition of the Steelers too. But when it
comes to game week, I think we have a bit
of a playbook for you know, how you show.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Up in a city.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
From my perspective, and maybe I'm being very selfish here,
but I think I can speak a little bit for
our sort of entire fan events team. That's that you know,
has delivered games in Germany and the UK, and you know,
in some cases.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Mexico and Brazil as well.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I think what I'm most excited about, quite honestly, is
is Dublin's ability to make, you know, for a for
a short period of time, make an event the hero
sort of thing that's happening in the city because of
the size of the city and and I suppose how
condensed its center is. I've been able to see that
(11:53):
a couple of times when I've come to the incredible
college football game there, and you know, I just I
can't couldn't get past the idea of of sort of
that the center of the city being taken over by
NFL fans, by Steelers fans. That gives me goosebumps even
now talking about it. You know what that's going to
(12:15):
be like when when we play that game this season. So,
you know, I think that that's that's really exciting, and
I have every I have every confidence that the event
will be an unforgettable one, not just game day, but
but sort of everything around it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And for people listening NFL dot Com slash Dublin, I'm
not going to ask you that question, Henry, but for
people listening, obviously there's a lot of excitement you can imagine,
not just on podcasts, but people in the street, people
text and everyone's bossing. But this it's obviously a very
exciting year ahead. Is there a timeline or sort of
you know, when we should be able to hear some
more information or is it very much sort of a
(12:53):
wait and see.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
I would certainly not very much wait and see. That
sounds like we're keeping secrets from you. We don't know
the answer to some of the questions that you all
would like answers to today as well. So I think that's,
you know, that's really what we need to get to
that point where we can have the answers, so that
we can give the answers. As you know, and I
think as hopefully as fans are sort of broadly aware,
(13:16):
Typically the NFL schedule is released after the draft. I
think last year it was kind of the second week
of May. I would expect the same thing to happen
this year. The International Games again have been announced as
part of that. Sometimes it's the day of, but obviously
at a more convenient time zone for international fans. I
(13:36):
think it's been as much as sort of four or
five days ahead of schedule release to kind of bread
crumb the way to the to the main schedule release.
I can't tell you what the plan is this year,
and you know in part that because the schedule is
a complicated beast that take us and come together. And
while you know, we know for a fact that there
will be a game in Dublin and it will include
(13:59):
the Steelers, and we know that the Steelers have a
nine teams on their schedule this year, and we know
that some of those teams are playing internationally already, so
they probably aren't going to be playing in Dublin. That's
really as sort of as far as the puzzle goes,
and I'm sure that you and lots of Steelers fans
and lots of NFL fans in general have put those
pieces together already, so we're all in the same place.
(14:21):
But you know we I'd expect that we'll be able
to make the announcement around a date and around an
opponent at around sort of the early to mid May time.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah, and look that that's awesome. I think for a
lot of people listening, it just means a lot. There's
that there's a game happening here. In the first list,
I think everyone's just delighted. To be honest with you,
just finally, Henry from yourself. You know, we've seen over
way past the last decade, but we've seen a real
legacy out of these London games, like a lot more
things taking place. The Ring of Honor took place last year. Look,
(14:55):
we're flowing a coin way down the path here, but
do you see the idea of this are stubblinging and
you just sort of add into the legacy of what
the NFL is doing and will hopefully continue to do
in the ukn ART and the long end of the future.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Yeah. Absolutely, Look, I mean It's funny.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
I just came off another call with someone else and
we were talking about exactly that. You know, we've we've
been playing games in London since two thousand and seven,
but I wouldn't say we're anywhere near where we want
to get to and where we expect that we can
get to in the UK with relation to those games.
We're at the start of a journey in Ireland in
(15:31):
terms of playing games, but I think also in terms
of sort of implementing some of the other programs that
we have done in the UK, whether it's flag football,
which is you know, incredibly important to us, I think
as a means of growing participation in the sport and
therefore fandom. In terms of you know, identifying a media
partner that can really get behind the sport and you know,
(15:51):
bring it to the masses through TV, which I think
is also something that we would love to be able
to do in ourland. Finding the right commercial partners that
we can grow with and alongside in the market is
really important. You know, there are a number of things
that you know, when you look at the blueprint of
how do you grow this and how do you make
(16:12):
sure that this isn't seen as a traveling circus, right,
We're not just putting up a tent and then coming back,
you know, at no point in the future. We want
this to be the start of that, the catalyst, the
springboard to to you know, real growth for the NFL
and the market, real growth for the Steelers brand in
the market, so that you know, for we're stronger after
(16:33):
this game and we can continue growing for years afterwards.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
That's the plan. That's what we're trying to get done here.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
But obviously in the meantime we're also very focused on
making sure that Game one and that this event is
as good as it possibly can be. We're trying to
deliver a mini super Bowl to Dublin. That's the plan,
and you know that's what we're we're looking to execute.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
That is a signdbite for this podcast and the air
series podcast Henry a minie super Bowl. I love it
NFL dot Com. Last doubling for every Steeers fan, for
every NFL fan listening, Henry, have no doubt. Well chat
as sums stage again very soon in this podcast. But
day Grimy Margat, thank you very much for lying on.
I'll chet you soon.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Irish airline air Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated by the
(17:36):
airline from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers
fans traveling to Ireland for the Big Game can enjoy
a relaxing journey when they fly with air Lingus. Air Lingus,
You're very welcome.
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