Do you think the Emerald Isle Classis is a good idea? Is that a serious question???? It’s a no brainer!!
40,000 extra visitors are in Ireland today.
They will generate about 100 million euro in spending.
They will raise the profile of Ireland as a good place to visit.
They will raise the profile of sport among teenagers

Getting 30,000+ wealthy high-spending Americans into the country for an event that would usually be held in the states and using it as a forum to promote Irish business, plus the millions who will watch a showcase of this country on Friday night and then the game on Saturday… how can this be a bad idea? How?
The €600k spent is roughly equivalent to one drink per visitor… it will be more than recouped. Incredible value for money.

That’s what I was wondering – what is the downside? (Not in a dismissive./offhand way, but as a question – as it’s raised in the poll – is it good/is it bad, you’ve outlined the good pretty clearly, but I don’t understand why anyone would be “against” it?)

How could it be a bad idea? One missed opportunity arguably would be not to use the fact that there are 35,000 American Football fans in Ireland to give them a brief insight into Gaelic Football, granted tickets are near sold out for Sunday , there could have been a formal event to invite them to, introductory talk, food , festivities and a glimpse of the All Ireland semi final which will hopefully be a cracker. Overall it’s a great idea and a big coup to get the College Football (which many Americans are more passionate about than he NFL) to Dublin.

It’s a great idea & I hope it becomes a yearly thing. Bringing in lots of revenue for the country as well as tourists. And it’s bringing over a game that has quite a big following over here.
Long may it continue.

As of 10.35 this poll has been hacked. How can 50% of people think this is a bad idea?

I just spent this week in the states and everyone is talking about, flight home today was full of supporters heading to the game. What could be bad about that…?

It’s a great idea, will there be many Irish at the game?
Also there is an open mass in Dublin Castle in the morn with 5/7k going to attend! Wow!

Go Navy

I’ve always thought the polls here had no bearing on what Irish people actually think (the commenters here seem to be a very narrow demographic), the results here are deranged.

Ignoring the don’t knows, 50% of people think gettting more American tourists here is a bad idea??
Very funny…

I would love to have gone to the Notre Dame and Navy game. As an American expat, it’s a great novelty to see an American sport played in Ireland. Goodness knows there are enough Irish games in America!

It’s a great idea, I was meeting Americans all summer who were over scouting out places to see for when they came over for the game. A lot are here since last weekend traveling around the country before heading to Dublin. If it becomes an annual thing I think they should spread some of the smaller events around the country.

Interesting that over 500 people voted no without saying why they think it’s a bad idea. A case of contrariness for the sake of it, maybe?

40,000 american football fans that don’t riot, have drunken brawls with the opposing team’s fans or the police. Unlike other football fans that come over from elsewhere in Europe.

And any positive boost to both the economy and tourism are almost always a good thing.

Was at the NFL game in Wembley last year. Massive number of travelling supporters all with great things to say about the UK and London due to the great reception their sport was getting. Expect the same for Dublin this weekend and if a success from the visitors point of view it too could become a yearly exercise like the London game has. Great news for tourism.

It’s only game peeps.
But Personally I think it’s a fantastic thing to do.

Dublin’s diary really is jam-packed this summer. Coming off of an amazing weekend with the tall ships bringing 1.25 million people into the city, now to an American football game that will be shown on CBS and streamed live world over by Youtube.

I attended the first Emerald Classic in Lansdowne Road between Boston and the Army in 1988 at which 42,525 spectators attended,10,000 or so from the US. It was hoped that it would become a annual event but ended after 1989 due to insufficient numbers. Hopefully this time it will be more successful. I assumed your question was rhetorical?

I, for one, welcome our American overloads.

I don’t thing it’s a good idea, it’s a brilliant idea. Funny poll, at one stage it was almost neck n neck. Yet thumbs up are around 80%. Vast majority of the NO’s can’t make up their minds. as Christy Moore sings “America I Love You”

Was there also Brian. Great day out. Brought teenage son. He is still hooked on the game. What was really impressive was that they could get 5 hours entertainment out of one game. Brilliant.

Quoting Shane O’Reilly, ‘Americans may have trouble navigating our narrow streets, and the seats in croke part may need to be extended , otherwise it’s a good idea’…I’d be more impressed with the attempt at sarcasm if Shane’s geography was any good. The game ISN’T in Croke Park…..it’s in the Aviva

It’s a great idea and opportunity to attract tourists. Whilst not wishing to rain on the parade I would worry that some of the less celebrated issues in Dublin will come to light – I saw some Americans on the boardwalk looking aghast at the junkies/dealers/ aggressive beggars etc Not to mention the environs of Busarus.We really need to clean things up and ensure the security of visitors to maximize these types of opportunities ps thank God the taxi strike is over

Go Navy! Let’s see that triple option!

I was in town last night. The place was heaving. All the Americans we met were good fun, mannerly and respectful. They are our people. I think it is great. After the tall ships I think it’s the dublin event of the year. Well done to whoever came up with the idea!

I’m confused. Is a “pep rally” of similar importance to the pre match piss up we’d have on this side of the world?

It’s an pointless poll, does the article even suggest that there is any grounds to suggest it’s a “bad idea”? Clearly out of ideas.

Landed in Dublin Airport yesterday and honestly thought i arrived in JFK airport, never seen as many stars and striped flags in my life !

It will be a nice display of REAL American culture.There is nothing quite like it in European sport,i’m just sorry i can’t get to see one of these games.

Hmmm…. oil recently discovered off the coast of Ireland and now the US Navy are here under the guise of an imperialist sport. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I’m getting out of Dublin today and I advise others to do the same. Mark my words, the Americans will launch drone strikes on the streets of Dublin tonight, killing thousands as part of a CIA/Mossad “false flag” operation that will be blamed on “Islamic terrorists”. This will be the excuse they need to invade us “for our own security” so they can STEAL OUR OIL and use Ireland as a base to assassinate Julian Assange from! WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, this is a great idea. We need all the tourism we can get and I hope they all enjoy themselves so much that they’ll be back. Pity the game is sold out though – I’d have liked to go.

Was talking to a lot of Americans through the medium of online gaming :P…..who are coming here with their families and friends and making a holiday of it.
From what I gathered – college handegg is a bigger deal to them than the NFL championship.

Surely the projected economic and tourism boost has to be welcomed but I hope it’s more accurate than the projections for tourism when Obama and the Queen visited which never materialised.

I hope we get an NFL season game in Croker next. Foooooooooooooottttttbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll.

It’s brilliant. I may have absolutely no clue about American Football, but I do know that any added tourism is a great boost to Ireland, especially as it is one of our few growing/stable industries.

It won’t just benefit to Dublin either, many Americans plan to travel around the country during their stay.

Also, have a look at the article about visitor numbers to see the Book of Kells, says it all.

The replies are hilarious . Some saying it is a silly poll, some saying it cannot be bad, some of the usual trousers, some good and some off the wall. However , it HAS provoked a lot of comments and replies, which shows great interest.

It’s good for the country and company I work for. Not good for me when the company is so under staffed! Until today I never knew the Friday blues existed.

Paul, LOL +++! The best predictive text error of the week!

It’s a good idea. The title of the event is a bit tacky tho.

People here think building a casino in Tipperary is a bad idea. Bringing gas in from the west coast is a bad idea. I could go on. Why not this?

we should have opening games of the senior football and hurling overseas. A great advertisement for Ireland

Not a bad idea, but we should be able to get American tourists here without turning the country into a 7-11.

Sounds like the results of a typically tacky brainstorming session by Irish business suits who continue to just see Dublin as a car park for tacky promotions.

Yeah of course, American tourists are the best kind , loved the world over , bit loud when they talk though …
I also worry that if some terrorist attack happened at one of these matches and a lot of American citizens were wiped out what the reaction would be ? Marines on o’connell street? Permanent FBI advisors to the gardai, laws enacted here to please the suits in Langley and our media outlets afraid to publish stories criticising the USA in any way? Too far fetched?

The Aviva needs real sportsmen playing in it instead of the sham footballers we have to look at

It would probably be better for advertising if it wasn’t on at 9am on the east coast, or 6am on the west. Surely 5pm or 8pm would have been a better idea

Bad idea , our culture has been americanised enough already.

Nearly as pointless as the Tall ships. Another good day for the pick pockets though. Carry on.