Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alamy Stock Photo

Dame Street closed to traffic from tonight as American College Football comes to town again

Georgia Tech and Florida State University will face off in the Aviva on Saturday.

TWO AMERICAN COLLEGE Football teams from Florida and Georgia are going head to head in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

It is the third year that the Aer Lingus College Football Classic has brought the game to Dublin, which this time around will see Georgia Tech and Florida State University take the field.

Thousands of Americans are visiting Dublin to attend the game.

Meanwhile, it has received a mixed reception from locals; some will head along to the game or take part in the affiliated events around Dublin, others are against the significant use of space and resources for an American game rather than one that is played in Ireland on a regular basis, and there are plenty who didn’t even know it was happening.

Kick-off time is at 5pm in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Many of the surrounding streets will be subject to road closures and diversions from 2pm (Bath Avenue, Londonbridge Road, part of Landsdowne Road, and Landsdowne Park) and 4.30pm (Shelbourne Road, all of Landsdowne Road, Ballsbridge Avenue, Beatty’s Avenue, Herbert Road and Newbridge Avenue).

Earlier in the day, the College Green area will be the site of celebrations during a pre-game programme on ESPN called College Gameday, which will be broadcast live from 2pm to 5pm.

Dublin City Council says that this is the first time the show has been broadcast outside the US. ESPN College Gameday last year reached an average vieweship of 2 million viewers an episode

As a result, Dame Street is closing to vehicle traffic from 8pm this evening until 6am on Sunday. Foster Place has been closed from 3pm on Wednesday and will also re-open to traffic from 6am on Sunday.

Bus services in the Temple Bar area on the Quays and Westmoreland Street will continue to operate, as will the Luas Green Line.

“Any temporary relocation of bus stops from Dame Street to other locations will be publicised via the National Transport Authority website. The Taxi Ranks from Foster Place and College Green will be moved temporarily to D’Olier Street,” Dublin City Council said in a statement.

The event on College Green is non-ticketed and open to the public.

Padraic O’Kane, Director and Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, has said that around 25,000 Americans are expected to visit Dublin for the event and attendance at the sold-out game will be around 47,500. 

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, O’Kane said that college football is a “multi-billion dollar game” and that there will be a television audience of around four million people watching the game.

“It’s not just the 25,000 people that are in town with a huge economic benefit in Ireland – we’re also on mainstream TV for nine hours in the United States on Saturday and that can’t be bad for Ireland,” he said.

He said organisers are looking to cement the game as an annual event in Ireland for many years to come.

“The sport of American football is hugely growing here, both in participation and viewing,” O’Kane said.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
51 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rab.c.nesbitt
    Favourite Rab.c.nesbitt
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 8:16 AM

    All for it, isn’t in amazing how quick they can draft up a bill for primary legislation but can’t draft up a bill for other issues in the country which need to be addressed just as urgently

    180
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian O'Brendan
    Favourite Brian O'Brendan
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 8:35 AM

    @Rab.c.nesbitt: You look like ya whip the guitar as house parties and everyone wants to die.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rab.c.nesbitt
    Favourite Rab.c.nesbitt
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 10:06 AM

    @Brian O’Brendan: sit boo boo sit

    44
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Favourite another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 2:01 PM

    @Brian O’Brendan: Have you never heard of Rab?!?!?….. Showing your age!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CP
    Favourite CP
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 6:42 PM

    @another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: he’s showing his age ok if he doesn’t know who Rab is, hes only a pup

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trump23
    Favourite Trump23
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 8:07 AM

    Just ban them 100%

    102
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arthur Brophy
    Favourite Arthur Brophy
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 8:57 AM

    @Trump23: and create a lucrative black market, because prohibition is soooooo successful

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arthur Brophy
    Favourite Arthur Brophy
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 9:02 AM

    The war war on vapes will go like the war on drugs, a monumental failure

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trump23
    Favourite Trump23
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 1:53 PM

    @Arthur Brophy: Not a good enough reason not to ban them

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stiles
    Favourite Stiles
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 2:17 PM

    @Arthur Brophy: 100% agree with the war on drugs being a complete failure but as long as they keep vapes regulated and legal for adults the black market won’t thrive. they shud legalise and regulate drugs for adults too..

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall English
    Favourite Niall English
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 9:28 AM

    i see donnelly concerned with the health risks. when is he going to tax fast food and junk food for obese people?

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buster Lawless
    Favourite Buster Lawless
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 10:34 AM

    @Niall English: and Netflix!!! Sitting down to watch a good movie of a winters night…. should be banned

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Hunt
    Favourite Brian Hunt
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 4:53 PM

    All the laws in the world are useless if they are not enforced. O’Connell Street, scroats selling heroin whilst Gardai look on!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SerotoninWars
    Favourite SerotoninWars
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 4:27 PM

    This is really unfair on kids addicted to nicotine. Imagine them trying to enjoy Disney on Ice while they’re gummin for a vape. It’s a great way of get them to tuck into fruit too with all the strawberry and watermelon options. This will end up like the pubs except it’ll be the kids who opt to stay at home where they can vape in peace, and at a reasonable price too.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Means Of Escape
    Favourite Means Of Escape
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 11:03 PM

    Bring in a law that requires a prescription from your doctor before you can buy vapes

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy
    Favourite Tommy
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 3:03 PM

    I hear joe dolan from the hale shop just let specialist shops sell them his shops are the 1s selling them to kids

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute martin finnegan
    Favourite martin finnegan
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 3:16 PM

    Awlful thing wont know real damage doing for few years sadly. Billionaires out there dont ever wanting smoking to go altogether. If was cure for cancer which how isnt but was vaccine for covid-19 so fast know not same but on control scales
    was .As it is more money in treatment and selling of smoking products and treatments to get you back smoking

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SerotoninWars
    Favourite SerotoninWars
    Report
    Sep 23rd 2024, 4:33 PM

    @martin finnegan: ‘ If was cure for cancer which how isnt but was vaccine for covid-19 so fast know not same but on control scales
    was’

    ??

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds