NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has remained quietly optimistic about the prospect of playing an NFL game in Ireland over recent months.
The topic has been one that is repeatedly brought up by pundits in the States, the UK and at home in Ireland itself.
Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced an official marketing deal in Ireland to solidify their already close familial ties with the island.
Other teams, namely the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets, have seen fit to expand their reach to the island of Ireland, with the sport’s fanbase growing here every year.
Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers held a watch-along party at Croke Park in Dublin, the only stadium that would meet the standards for an NFL game, and there have been feasibility tests by the league to look into the possibility.
During a Q&A in London, Goodell said the NFL would “no doubt” be playing in Ireland, but was tight-lipped on the timescale.
During the build-up to last weekend’s Giants-Panthers game in Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, the New York businessman teased the fixture yet again.
“We’re also looking at the potential of another game…in Ireland,” said Goodell, when listing off the international games the league was hoping to play next year.
He added: “It’s a possibility.”
The other countries that will host NFL games next are the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Spain.