Organisers of NFL game at Croke Park expect it to be shown live on free-to-air television

Government do not expect game to be a one-off event

Pittsburgh Steelers great Rod Woodson and present current player Pat Freiermuth pictured at Croke Park on Wednesday as part of a NFL Flag Football skills demonstration. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Pittsburgh Steelers great Rod Woodson and present current player Pat Freiermuth pictured at Croke Park on Wednesday as part of a NFL Flag Football skills demonstration. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Organisers of the first regular season NFL fixture to be held in Ireland expect the game to be broadcast live on free-to-air television.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play at Croke Park later this year – with the date and their opponents to be confirmed in early May – but NFL officials are already negotiating for the match to be shown on terrestrial TV.

“We are having some of those conversations right now with the free-to-air broadcasters, that is absolutely our intention,” said Henry Hodgson, general manager of NFL UK & Ireland.

“But it needs to be broader than that, we want to make sure the game is accessible to watch for everybody when it is taking place in Ireland.”

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Meanwhile, Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan says the Government do not expect this to be a one-off event, with the hope within Leinster House being that the games become annual fixtures in Dublin.

“That’s our anticipation,” he said. “Ultimately that will be a matter for the NFL, but our expectation is that we have had a very good start and we have a very strong relationship. I would hope to see this put on a strong footing going forward.”

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning is a sports journalist, specialising in Gaelic games, with The Irish Times